Christy O’Donnell (right) and Bailey Donorovich
Austin Hargrave
Terminally ill solitary mom Christy O’Donnell, that campaigned challenging to grab a right-to-die law passed in California last year and filed a lawsuit asking for that ideal as well, died at her house Saturday afternoon, her older brother tells Individuals exclusively.
O’Donnell had Phase 4 lung cancer that had metasticized throughout her body. While O’Donnell feared she would certainly die drowning in her own fluids, she actually had a “peaceful” death, said Jay Watts, her older brother. She died in her bed at her Valencia, California, home, along with her daughter, Bailey Donorovich, 21, holding her hand and Watts by her side.
“She did make use of hospice care, so they did exactly what they could to preserve her as comfortable as possible,” says Watts. “Unfortunately, she had tumors throughout her mind and her liver and everywhere. They did the most effective they could, however they couldn’t protect against the seizures on and off or the breakthrough pain.
“She and Bailey have actually been going through considerably the last month,” he says.
Bailey Donorovich (left) and her mom Christy O’Donnell
Lori Dorman
While California has actually signed the End of Life Option Act in to law, it is still not in effect in California. O’Donnell, 47, was a former police sergeant and trial lawyer and told Individuals she did not hope to break the law.
Had it been in effect, she would certainly have actually “taken the option a month ago once her seizures started,” Watts says.
“She knew exactly what was going on…she did the most effective she could,” he says. “Regarding a week ago, she wasn’t able to speak at all of due to the strokes causing damage – that was her second greatest fear.”
Her immediate family will certainly hold a private service to celebrate her life, per O’Donnell’s request, at a later date.
Last year, O’Donnell said she was hoping she’d live long sufficient to celebrate her daughter’s 21st birthday along with a special quest to the Bahamas, which they took on June 26.
“It was priceless,” O’Donnell told Individuals at the time. “To have the ability to actually make it to be there – that in and of itself, free of carrying out anything else, was sweet for the 2 of us.”
Christy O’Donnell and Bailey Donorovich at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas
Courtesy Christy O’Donnell
Prior to she died, O’Donnell wrote a letter to be released upon her death.
“Today, I write this goodbye along with tears in my eyes, not of sadness, however joy for my daughter’s future and the life I have actually lived,” she wrote. “I have actually taken advantage of every little thing current medical science has actually to supply to attempt to live longer. I have actually prayed to be healed and have actually had Individuals about the globe praying for me.
“Yet, I have actually endured much more emotional and bodily discomfort compared to anybody must have actually to endure. My daughter and I fought quite challenging throughout the last months of my life to attempt to delivering Regarding beneficial modification in this world. My daughter has actually unselfishly offered up her time along with me to every one of you, to ensure that no youngster will certainly ever again have actually to watch the individual they adore suffer at their death. I ask you all of to keep on making your voices heard for those that are suffering.
“I take comfort in understanding that someday help in dying will certainly be lawful not just in California, however throughout the United States.”
As always, Bailey was uppermost on her mind.
“I have actually done every little thing I can easily believe of to plan you for this moment and I pray that it has actually been sufficient to lessen your suffering after Mommy is gone,” she continued. “I additionally pray that every one of Mommy’s family and friends will certainly be there for you in the future and they have actually established a trust for you to do exactly what I could not be there to do, grab you through college in our own house along with our ‘poopies,’ ‘Lady’ and ‘Pup Pup.’ Mommy loves you much more compared to 10,000 blue stars. Xoxo.”
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