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Christy O’Donnell: Terminally Ill Mom Who Fought For Right-To-Die Legislation Dies At Home With Daughter Holding Her Hand

By Lindsay McCane
Published on: 05:40 PST, Feb 9, 2016

Christy O’Donnell, the 47-year-old single mom that campaigned for the right-to-die legislation in California, died on Saturday afternoon with her daughter and brother by her side.

According to a previous report by the Inquisitr, O’Donnell, who described herself as both a conservative and a Christian, fought to end her own life after her stage four lung cancer metastasized throughout her body.

“I’ve reconciled my own religious beliefs with this decision,” O’Donnell told Katie Couric during a 2015 interview. “My walk with God, it doesn’t conflict with my desire to die peacefully, to take away physical pain. And I don’t believe, at least in my particular religion or others, that this type of pain serves a purpose.”

The doctors told Christy there was nothing more for them to do for her type of cancer, and she would eventually die a slow, painful death by drowning in her own fluids. However, her older brother, Jay Watts, who was beside his sister when she died, said she actually had a “peaceful” death, according to People Magazine. Watts said she died at her home in Valencia, California while laying in her bed with her daughter, 21-year-old Bailey Donorovich, holding her hand.

“She did take advantage of hospice care, so they did what they could to keep her as comfortable as possible,” Watts told the magazine. “Unfortunately, she had tumors throughout her brain and her liver and everywhere. They did the best they could, but they couldn’t stop the seizures on and off or the breakthrough pain. She and Bailey have been going through a lot the last month.”

Although California has signed the End of Life Option Act into law, it still hasn’t taken effect in the state. Watts said his sister, who was a former LAPD sergeant and trial attorney, would have ended her life over a month ago when her seizures started if it wasn’t for breaking the law.

“She knew what was going on…she did the best she could,” he continued. “About a week ago, she wasn’t able to speak at all because of the strokes causing damage – that was her second greatest fear.”

“Death with Dignity” is legal in Oregon, but Christy refused to uproot her daughter from their California home. Instead, she filed a lawsuit with Compassion & Choices, asking the California courts to grant her wish to die with the help of medications from her doctor. At the time, a judge ordered an expedited review of her suit, which was to take place in July 2015 in San Diego.

Despite not being granted the right to die on her own terms, Christy continued living her life as best she could. One of her biggest fears was missing her daughter’s 21st birthday, but she lived to see it, and the pair even took a vacation to the Bahamas to celebrate.

“Always in the back of your mind is the very present thought that pretty much was our last vacation together,” O’Donnell said at the time. “We got to be on the beach together, where she took her first drink. Her first legal drink.”

Before Christy O’Donnell died, she wrote a letter and instructed that it be released following her death. The letter included her hopes that one day the legislation will go into effect so other cancer patients won’t have to endure the mental and physical suffering she did.

Below is an excerpt from the letter.

“Today, I write this goodbye with tears in my eyes, not of sadness, but joy for my daughter’s future and the life I have lived. I have taken advantage of everything current medical science has to offer to try to live longer. I have prayed to be healed and have had people around the world praying for me.”

“Yet, I have suffered more emotional and physical pain than anyone should have to endure. My daughter and I fought very hard during the last months of my life to try to bring about positive change in this world. My daughter has unselfishly given up her time with me to all of you, so that no child will ever again have to watch the person they love suffer at their death. I ask you all to continue making your voices heard for those who are suffering.”

Christy’s friends set up the O’Donnell Fund on Crowdrise.com to raise money for Bailey’s education. Currently, $14,727 of the $50,000 goal has been raised by supporters.


[Photo via the O’Donnell Fund/ Crowdrise.com]

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