header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 18
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital


Christy O'Donnell (left) with her daughter.

Christy O’Donnell of Valencia (left) with her daughter.

[KHTS] – The California Senate passed the End of Life Act on Friday. It now heads to the governor’s desk.

ABX2-15 would allow mentally-capable, terminally-ill adults the option to request a doctor’s prescription for aid-in-dying drugs to painlessly and peacefully hasten their death.

The bill passed out of the Senate 23-14.

Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, voted against the bill when it was in the lower house Wednesday.

Sen. Sharon Runner, R-Antelope Valley, said this week she was against it.

“This bill strikes a very personal chord for me, as I was terminally ill just a few years ago,” Runner said. “I would not be here today without my lung transplant. It was a long and difficult process, and I struggled through many painful days. But, look at the life I have now. I believe life is sacred; it begins at conception and ends when it is meant to end. We should not force the issue.”

Santa Clarita resident Christy O’Donnell, who is also a single mom, civil rights attorney and former LAPD sergeant, has brain, liver, lung, rib and spine cancer. She’s morphine intolerant and is going to die painfully from her illness.

She is also the lead plaintiff in a suit asserting the California constitution and state law allow terminally ill adults the option of medical aid in dying.

“The pain is pretty significant now (compared) to when I was in here, what a month ago,” O’Donnell said. “I take a lot of percocet. I take a lot of it and it barely takes the edge off the pain. I’m really at the end of my treatment.”

O’Donnell is just one of hundred of terminally ill patients in the Santa Clarita Valley, she says. She belongs to a stage IV cancer support group with many of them.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

10 Comments

  1. AJ says:

    od Bless you Christy. There is an afterlife and you will be at peace looking over your beautiful daughter free of pain. Thank for all you are doin for the terminally ill community. My husband is a stroke patient, severely brain damaged, chronic pain and uncontrollable seizures. His prognosis is not good, because of fighters such as yourself maybe soon he too will be at peace and no longer suffering. People dont understand until they are in the same circumstances. There is nothin worse than watchin someone you love more than yourself suffer slow and painfully. No person or law should be aloud to tell another human being that they cant end their suffering. Animals are given this respect but humans are not. Is just makes no sense. Thank you so much for fighting fir us, for providing us the choice in our own death. Its time people understand that there is a “Fate Worse than Death”. Bless you beautiful fighter!

  2. Prayers that our governor does the right thing and signs very soon

  3. Dan OConnell says:

    Good for Sharon Runner for overcoming cancer. And she’s welcome to her religious convictions. Unfortunately, as a senator she actively works to make Christy O’Donnell live by these religious convictions. Choosing to end your life is not a decision that anyone wants to be faced with. I’m sure Christy wouldn’t choose to do so if there was a glimmer of hope. But she is at stave IV. And she most likely doesn’t share Senator Runner’s religious convictions. I’m sure the senator was never at stage IV and faced what Christy if facing. Unfortunately, the senator thinks that Christy can’t make the right decision but that she (Ms. Runner) can. This is just the worst example of selfishness, and it is so maddening to see it coming from a politician. This country was founded on the principal that religion is not to become a factor in making laws.

  4. Moonbeam better sign it!!!!

  5. Nancy Stern says:

    Bless you Christy you must be an incredibly strong woman to undertake this battle while fighting cancer. I know this will bring immeasurable comfort to other terminal people and their families. I believe there is a very special place in heaven for people like you.

  6. Linda H says:

    God Bless you and your famiy Christy, I cannot imagine your day to day life and pray that the govenor makes the right decision. I agree with AJ in that why is it we can make decisions for our pets not to suffer and it is the “humane” thing to do yet we can not do the same thing for our HUMANS. I support this bill with all my heart and hope it passes. I wish I had magic words to make your pain go away but please know that my heart hurts for all of you. Godspeed Christy.

  7. I feel so sad for her daughter, the pain you see in her eyes says so much. A mothers love never stops and she is trying to protect her daughter from having to make any heart breaking decisions regarding her health. Pass the law!!!

  8. Ckay Walker says:

    Stay strong. This bill needs to pass.

  9. Ckay Walker says:

    @ Sharon Runner you had treatment options. This girl doesn’t. Big difference.

  10. This is huge! !! Praying this passes. Do the right thing Governor

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
L.A., San Bernardino Counties to Open Joint Local Assistance Centers for Residents Impacted by Bridge and Line Fires
Valencia Gynecology Associates, owned by longtime Santa Clarita Valley OB-GYN physician Don Nishiguchi, MD, has joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital network. 
Valencia Gynecology Assoc. Joins Henry Mayo Network
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
A "friendies" field tournament  is being  hosted by the Saugus Instrumental Music program, with support from Valencia High, later this month. 
Sept. 21: All Valley Showcase Comes to Valencia High
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Sept. 20: Last Chance to Register for the River Rally
SCVNews.com