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David Stanley Ford

Girl who inspired 'Steffanie's Law' dies
Girl who inspired 'Steffanie's Law' dies

By John Greiner    Comments Comment on this article10
Published: March 13, 2008

Steffanie Collings, namesake of legislation to require insurance coverage for routine health care costs for patients who undergo clinical trials, died today, a day after the bill passed the state Senate.

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Steffanie Collings speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City Jan. 23. Photo by Steve Gooch

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The 18-year-old Noble girl was told by her father Wednesday that the bill, called Steffanie's Law, had passed the Oklahoma Senate.

"Steffanie knew before she passed," her father, Monty Collings, said.

Steffanie Collings had undergone care that was part of a clinical trial, but some of the routine health care costs such as lab tests and doctor's visits that normally would be covered by insurance were not covered in her case as well as other patients undergoing clinical trials that test new medical treatments.

Although battling a brain tumor that had left her weak and in a wheelchair, Steffanie came to the state Capitol in January and spoke in support of the legislation.

"Steffanie went to be with our Lord around 1 a.m. this morning," her father wrote in an e-mail to family friends. "She was truly a soldier for Christ! She will be dearly missed, and we are comforted knowing that she is with God singing, dancing and hanging out with her grandparents in Heaven."

"The courage and compassion of the entire Collings family inspired us to seek help for them wherever it might be found. Steffanie in particular was one of the bravest people I've ever met," said Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, the author of Steffanie's Law.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Truth Church in care of the McClain Bank in Noble or to the Oklahoma Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation, 820 NE 63.

Contributions to Truth Church will be used to build a playground, Collings said.

Contributions to the brain tumor foundation will be to help others going through similar situations, he said.

"We agreed it was to help others," he said.

In February after speaking to a Senate committee that approved Steffanie's law, Collings said she was in the final stages of her illness.

He said his and his family's efforts on the legislation would be to help others.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Truth Church, 48th and Etowah in Noble, under the direction of McMahan Funeral Home.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Science and Technology, Technology, Health and Fitness, Medicine, Cancer, Medical Technology, Brain Cancer, Clinical Trials, Health Care Costs, Health Care Issues


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Shame on Andrew "Obama" Rice exploiting this girl's struggle against cancer to score political points. The family had to know what would happen when they enrolled Steffanie in that clinical trial; they took the risk & it didn't pay off. I feel sad for these people but so what? I lost my mother to metastatic cancer of the brain just before my 16th birthday. Brain cancer is a literal DEATH sentence. Yet you didn't hear ME whining, crying, & demanding that BIG GOVERNMENT force other people to pay for my mother's treatments.
Philip, Oklahoma City - Aug 4, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Healthcare in this country is nothing more than big business. They are in it to make money and not to help people. It's really sick to think that they make their money off people dieing. Legal murder is what I call it. While other countries enjoy longer, happier lives we are stuck with dieing premature and broke. In most other countries they laugh at us as we pay and pay for our "better" private healthcare. God forbid our government step in and have control in healthcare and insurance... that would be too communist.
Jess, Warr Acres - Mar 13, 2008 at 10:48 pm
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I am so sorry to hear of her passing. My maternal grandmother passed away at the young age of 19 from this disease. My mother was only a baby when her mother died. I pray God comforts them in their time of immense loss. God Bless.
kandice, moore - Mar 13, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I realize things usually not always black and white but what can be wrong with a law that requires insurance companies to pay for care that might save a young girl's life and keep a family from being financially ruined? What kind of people do this sort of thing? I mean I can't imagine being the person who works for a company who has to tell a family I'm sorry your child has to die because we won't cover this treatment and you can't afford it. Sad, very sad. We have the greatest health care system in the world "if you can afford it".
David, Norman - Mar 13, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I've said it before and I'll say it again: laws named after dead children almost always do more harm than good. Oklahoma has passed more health insurance requirements like this in the last couple of years than any other state. We also now have extraordinarily high insurance premiums and as a result more people without coverage. This girl and her family have my deepest sympathies, but sympathy is not a sound basis for policy.
Ryan, Norman - Mar 13, 2008 at 8:12 pm
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The insurance lobby who pushed against this bill is the same one pushing for tort reform. Go read this year's tort reform bills as soon as you see them emerge. Insurance lobbyists fingerprints are everywhere. Then go read Oklahoma's laws and think for yourself what needs to be changed? If anything, Steffanie's parents deserve MORE ability to hit these insurance companies in the only place they can be hit -- the wallet.
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Mar 13, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I would like to know the names of our legislators who voted against this bill. Knowing what sits in those chairs, I'm sure there were at least some. How about it insurance lobby? What can you possibly say? I'd love to hear it.
Cale, oklahoma city - Mar 13, 2008 at 6:53 pm
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In 100 years most of us will be gone, reduced to a name on a headstone or only in the memory of our present family. In 18 short years, one little girl's trials and struggles will contribute more than most of us will accomplish in 80 years. I've always believed that the purpose of life is to leave the place better than you found it. Stephanie, your life had purpose and your death had meaning. thank you for your gift.
Cale, oklahoma city - Mar 13, 2008 at 6:50 pm
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I am so sorry for your loss. I think this was so unfair and unnecessary. I hope I never feel the sadness and pain that you must be going through. She made a difference for all future children and families. You will be in my thoughts and prayers..
Brenda Carter
brenda, moore - Mar 13, 2008 at 5:30 pm
God bless you Steffanie
Renee, edmond - Mar 13, 2008 at 5:27 pm

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