'A portrait of strength'

The Norman Transcript

March 16, 2008 12:23 am

— Transcript Staff Writer
NOBLE -- Steffanie Lynn Collings was a fighter, but never let her illness keep her from helping others, her pastor said at her funeral Saturday afternoon.
The 18-year-old fought brain cancer for five years before dying Thursday morning, only hours after the law named after her passed the Senate.
Steffanie's Law would force health insurance companies to continue to pay a patient's routine medical costs even if the patient chose to go through a medical trial.
The Collings family chose a medical trial at OU Medical Center as a last resort to save her, and their insurance cut her off. As a result, the family incurred more than $400,000 in medical bills.
Collings supported the bill, which was introduced in the state Senate this year. She lived until her purpose was accomplished, which was perhaps seeing the bill through the Senate, her pastor, James A. Smith, said at her funeral.
More than 200 attended the hour-long service at Truth Church, 4800 Etowah Road in Noble, where Collings attended church. Her family did not speak at the service.
Many cried as she was eulogized and a slideshow was shown. But the overall tone was upbeat, affirming that she was in a better place in heaven.
"I'm gonna miss her, and we in this church are gonna miss her," Smith said. "Her family is gonna miss her. Thank God that for us this is not all there is."
The church erupted in "amens" as Smith asked, "Can I get a witness?"
Smith said Collings began fighting as soon as she first learned she had cancer at age 14.
"For five years, that young lady fought valiantly, a portrait of strength and courage, a portrait of class," Smith said. Adding that she set an example for others by not griping about her illness.
"Steffanie's life had a way of putting things in perspective for me," he said.
She stayed positive through her cancer, Smith said.
"Up to the very end, she would talk about dreams and aspirations for the future," he said.
Smith said he was at the Collings home Wednesdsay, the last day of her life. The family received a phone call the Senate passed Steffanie's law 31-13, Smith said. At Smith's comment, the church exploded in applause.
Collings died just before 1 that night, on her father's birthday and just 10 days before her 19th.
He urged everyone in the room to become proactive in the passage of Steffanie's Law.
"A family in desperation should not be punished for trying to do everything in their power to keep their child alive," he said to more applause and "amens."
Several at the funeral wore buttons stating "I support Steffanie's Law SB 1521," including Sen. Andrew Rice and Rep. Kris Steele.
Smith said Collings loved Jesus and is now happy and healed in heaven. The fact that her life was short does not mean that God did not care, but that she had finished the work God had given her to do, he said.
Before she died, Collings told Smith her greatest mission in life was to pass her law, to help other families like hers.
"I could not help but think maybe that was the mission she was waiting to complete," Smith said.
Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com