Samantha Bahl, former ACU art and design student who battled adrenal cancer for more than two years, died last week at age 21.  She was diagnosed on Oct. 1, 2009, and fought until Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011.

Jackie Hughes, Samantha’s mother and former ACU faculty member, said Samantha had a very strong relationship with God, which was evident through her encouraging and bright spirit.

“Samantha said, ‘If this brings people to God, then bring it – I’ll take cancer,'” Jackie said.

Her friends are a testament to her utter selflessness and encouraging spirit. Hayden Richardson, sophomore marketing major from Nashville, Tenn., found Samantha to be “bubbly, fun to be around and super encouraging.”

“She found something positive and encouraging to say when you were going through something,” Richardson said.

Richardson also said Samantha was a very talented artist.

“Her dorm room was covered in all of the stuff she’d drawn,” Richardson said. “It was covered in all of her work.”

Samantha’s roommate, Melissa Lozano, junior psychology major from Arlington, witnessed her humor, her boldness and her unique laugh.

“[Samantha] was the person that would go sit next to someone sitting alone in class and become their friend,” Lozano said. “Whenever it would rain, she would be the first person out there dancing.”

The two met their freshman year, when Samantha popped into her room, dancing to the music playing on Lozano’s computer.

“She was one of my dearest and closest friends,” Lozano said. “I confided in her for everything – she was my go-to person.

Samantha was born on April 13, 1990, and grew up in Big Rapids, Mich. When she was about 11 years old, her family moved to Texas. Upon coming to college, Samantha began to experience health problems.

“We knew something was wrong in August, two days before she moved into the dorms,” Jackie said. “She had a pain in her side, and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her.”

After receiving news of her illness in October, Samantha continued to attend school off and on while becoming a figure of endurance and hope for the ACU community.

Richardson, as well as many other ACU students, witnessed Samantha’s upbeat nature, even during the most difficult times.

“Going through as much as she had, she was still so concerned with me and what was going on with other people,” Richardson said. “It was almost as if her illness was nonexistent.”

Jackie saw the same strength in her daughter that other friends did.

“Samantha does not like to talk about sad or upsetting things,” Jackie said. “What she does is take anything that is sad and twists it and makes something positive out of it.”

According to Hughes, Samantha’s life has brought relatives to Christ, which was the vibrant young woman’s goal in life.

Last year, the family decided to move back to Big Rapids and transferred Samantha’s healthcare from M.D. Anderson to the University of Michigan, which specializes in treating the type of cancer Samantha had.

Through this time, Jackie saw that it was “totally the Lord” that carried them.

“The Lord will always send people,” Jackie said. “The ACU community has been insane.”

Contributions were made to Samantha by the the winners of Sing Song 2011 – Gamma Sigma Phi, Ko Jo Kai and the sophomore class. Proceeds from the 2011 Kirk Goodwin Run also went to cover Samantha’s medical expenses. ACU’s Omega Dance Company also donated a portion of their first show’s proceeds to Samantha’s family.

“God has provided for us financially when we have needed,” Jackie said.

As Samantha’s life was coming to an end, she continued to praise and glorify God.

“She couldn’t breathe because the cancer had filled up her lungs, but it was like she would do ‘breath prayers,'” Jackie said. “She was trying to be strong for her brother and boyfriend, even though in her head she was ready to go.”

“One in a million people get [adrenal cancer],” Jackie said. “I always told Samantha she was one in a million.”

Samantha is survived by her parents Jackie and Franklin Hughes and Jchon Sr. and Wendy Bahl, and her five brothers Jchon, Isaac, Langston, Dalton and Noah.

The memorial service took place Saturday, November 26 at the Grandville Church of Christ in Big Rapids, Mich., where Samantha attended church.