The Mary Kay Smith Lindy Nursing Scholarship

IN HONOR OF NURSES

Tim Smith and his six siblings know exactly how special and important nurses are. Their late mom, Mary “Kay” Smith Lindy devoted her professional life to nursing and nurse education. When Kay passed away in 2021, her children chose the most appropriate, loving memorial they could think of: they funded a scholarship. The Mary Kay Smith Lindy Scholarship was established through NPC Friends and Family (www.npc.edu/npcfriendsfamily) for nursing students at Northland Pioneer College (NPC) in Navajo County, Arizona. The siblings chose NPC because Kay deeply loved the part of her career spent on the Navajo Nation and Hopi lands. She loved working with the Navajo and Hopi people and carried her love for them always. Native American NPC nursing students are prioritized for the scholarship, which provides awardees with $1,000 per semester toward their studies in the college’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, which prepares them to become Registered Nurses. 

Until just a few weeks ago, Tim Smith had no idea how much his appreciation for nurses would grow. During a routine checkup, Tim’s doctor suspected Tim had blocked arteries in his heart. Although Tim is an avid hiker, he had experienced no symptoms. Still, follow-up tests confirmed his doctor’s concerns, and Tim was scheduled for double-bypass surgery in early November at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital. During his procedure, Tim’s surgeons discovered he actually needed a triple-bypass. Tim was sent to ICU to recover, and wound up spending over a week in the care of the nurses at Abrazo. 

Tim was completely in awe of all the nurses managed to do for their patients. They seemed to be in constant motion: monitoring patients’ conditions and communicating with doctors and other providers about their findings; administering medications, answering the questions of patients and anxious families, and simply doing whatever was necessary to assure their patients were safe and comfortable. Tim observed that they did all this with remarkable grace: smiles, gentle bantering, pats and words of encouragement – for their patients and for one another. Even when patients were curt – even rude and demanding – Tim observed the nurses responding with patience and kindness. One told him: It’s OK. This is such a hard experience for them. They don’t know what they are saying. Tim felt an upwelling of gratitude, for his late mom, and for all the nurses who cared for him and his fellow patients so well. 

Upon his discharge, Tim was moved to thank the Abrazo Arizona Heart Health nurses, not just for their care of him, but for all they do for the nursing profession. When he asked about giving them each a gift card, he was told they would not be allowed to accept. Tim’s sister Gigi suggested Tim might make a donation to the Mary Kay Smith Lindy Scholarship Fund in honor of the Abrazo nurses, and to share the story of the scholarship, and his mom, with them, so they might understand his gratitude and admiration for their diligence, professionalism, and goodness. 

Scholarships like the Mary Kay Smith Lindy Scholarship are truly changing lives for the nursing students of Northland Pioneer College. Many NPC students are the first generation in their families to go to college. They are challenged by multiple barriers, beyond the financial constraints of a service area marked by high poverty and unemployment. Many are working adults, balancing jobs with the care of children and elders. They drive literally hundreds of miles per week to attend classes, labs and clinicals. Yet they expect nothing. They are determined to do what it takes to change their lives, and the lives of their families and communities for the better through education. Although a new generation, these student nurses are the people Mary Kay Smith Lindy knew and loved. 

This story, and a substantial donation made by Tim to the Mary Kay Smith Lindy Scholarship Fund, is Tim’s gift to the wonderful and special nurses at Abrazo Arizona Heart Health. While he cannot give each one who cared for him a personal gift, Tim has chosen to "Pay It Forward," helping future aspiring nurses to join one of the most vital, worthy, noble professions in the world. Tim wants the Abrazo nurses, and all nurses, to recognize how amazing they are, and how much we need and appreciate them. 

Show nurses how much you appreciate them! Make a donation today!