Bringing music and compassion to patient care

Born and raised in a small village in northern China, Christy Ay moved to the U.S. with a desire to care for others, ultimately choosing nursing as her path. Colorado, with its wide-open spaces and sense of peace, reminded her of her hometown.

“My hometown is so small it is not even on a map. Colorado reminds me of my home. We have big open grasslands, not a lot of skyscrapers, just a lot of open fields,” Ay said.

Now, Ay’s compassion and resilience shine through as a registered nurse, a role she has embraced fully, despite the challenges of being in a new country and learning a new language.

Ay’s connection to patient care began with her passion for helping people.  Early in her life, she worked in churches and bible schools in China before moving to Chicago, where she encouraged others and sang on the worship team. Despite her ministry in the church, something felt incomplete.

The realization that she wanted to make a more profound impact on people’s lives led her to pursue a nursing degree at Colorado State University Pueblo. For Ay, the transition wasn’t easy — she faced language barriers and the rigors of a demanding program. But she rose to the occasion and found joy in learning how to care for patients, declaring, “I am really lucky.”

Ay integrates her love of music into her nursing duties at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center.

“I like to sing,” she said with a smile. “I sing everywhere — cooking, cleaning, in the shower.”

She hums her way through hospital hallways, and her patients often ask her to sing. For many, her songs bring moments of peace or joy. Whether it’s gospel hymns like “How Great Thou Art” or traditional Chinese melodies from her village, Ay’s melodious voice connects with patients on a deeply human level. “One patient told me, ‘Oh, you sang that Chinese song this morning. It was so beautiful; can you sing it for my wife?’”

Ay’s passion for music extends beyond simple melodies; she has seen firsthand the profound impact it can have on healing. While studying nursing, she explored the effects of music therapy in hospitals, and her experience with one patient has stayed with her ever since.

“I once had a patient with dementia and amnesia who was not able to speak clearly, but she could sing. We would sing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ together, and that would calm her down. It also made us both very happy,” Ay recalled. The bond they shared through music created a space where words weren’t needed, yet the connection was deeply felt.

Music is not just a tool for healing her patients, but for Ay, it’s a source of comfort and joy as well, making her an extraordinary nurse who truly brings heart and soul to her care.