jennifer kastner talks to christy o'donnell . about her battle for assisted suicide. let >> reporter:christy o'donnell of santa clarita believes she has the right to end her life under the care of a doctor. now she's filing suit. >>"i can't take anymore pain. i don't want to suffer anymore and we don't want to see our loved ones watching us suffer anymore." >> reporter:the mother and former lapd sergeant has terminal lung cancer and is asking for the option to get a prescription to end what she calls the dying process that's already underway. >> reporter:she's joining two other californians in their fight against the state to make end of life decisions without fear of prosecution. >>"the reason that i'm bringing the lawsuit it because i can't wait. i mean, you know. a week ago i was ten times better than i am now." the complaint just filed points out the state's recognition of the fundamental right to refuse life sustaining treatment or nutrition concluding that there's no rational basis to distinguish between withdrawal of treatment to a terminally ill patient and a

kastner: throw it down. it's noodle crack. patel: you have to be ready for the heart attack on a platter. crowell: okay, i'm the bacon guy. man: oh, i just did a jig every time i dipped into it. man #2: it just completely blew my mind. woman: it felt like i had a mouthful of raw vegetables and dry dough. sbrocco: oh, please. i want the dessert first! [ laughs ] i told him he had to wait.

jennifer kastner with our c- n-n partners has the story. >> reporter:18-month old abel now has sevenis ear. >> reporter:his mother-- charlene roberts---has stab wounds and bruises across her back and arm. >> reporter:and the car they were riding is covered with shattered glass. >>: "every attack, every hit was meant for the baby. it wasn't meant for us. he was trying to kidnap the child and who knows what he would have done with him after that." >> reporter:it was last monday when officers say 44- year-old nicholas garcia went after the family while they were trying to change a tire on the shoulder of i- 215, south of newport road. highway patrol says he smashed the driver's side and rear windows with a broken plastic freeway paddle marker. and began stabbing the toddler. >>"the car seat was right here and i'm like this on top of the baby trying to protect him, and there was one point where i was looking at him face to face cuz he was in the car." >> reporter:she says other family him back. as he kept swinging. >> reporter:they still have the car seat with the markings. >>: "charlene