Brenda Sue Baird Obituary
On Monday, February 23, 2026, Brenda Sue (Scott) Baird, age 55, passed away at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, AZ. She was born May 22, 1970 in Smithville, MO.
Brenda was born with the Spina Bifida birth defect and was taken from the delivery room at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO where she remained in the NICU for the next 16 days. Her diagnosis was very grim. The spinal opening was so large doctors said she could not live without surgery and would not live through surgery. At 16 days old, we took her home to die. At 3 months the doctors told us she had a strong will to live and she should have surgery quickly. She had a shunt surgery at 3 months for the hydrocephalus that had developed and at 4 months the doctors surgically closed her spine. From there she had at least 25-30 surgeries and more hospitalizations.
In 1974 we moved to Stilwell, KS where the social worker advised us that the schools had better programs for special needs kids. She attended elementary, middle and high school in the Blue Valley school and graduated at Blue Valley High School in May of 1991. She participated in Special Olympics each year through elementary school years and loved being a part of the wheel chair races. She also went to summer camp for handicap children at Lake Perry, KS for several years and was chosen by the hospital to attend a special ostomy camp in California for 2 years and in New York 1 year. These camps were the highlight of her summer each year.
She was baptized at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO and confirmed at Atonement Lutheran Church in Overland Park, KS. She married Rodney Baird in Glendale, AZ in May 1997.
She moved to the Phoenix, AZ area in July 1996. She worked at several types of jobs and also worked as a volunteer at St Joseph Hospital in Phoenix for many years until one of the doctor's asked her to come work in his clinic.
Brenda is survived by her husband Rodney, parents Darrel and Lois Scott of Stilwell, KS, her 4 brothers, Ed (Susan) of Paola, KS, David (Helen) of Olathe, KS, Brent (Cherish) of Overland Park, KS and Brian of Stilwell, KS. Eight nieces and nephews, Austen of Kansas City, MO, Ashely of Belton, MO. Zack, Ryder and Kaylee of Olathe, KS, Jocelyn and Harper of Overland Park, KS and Evie of Stilwell and aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
Brenda is proceeded in death by her grandparents, Earl and Hazel Saathoff and Clarance and Olga Scott, her uncle Ray Scott and cousins, James Saathoff and Shelley Walters.
We were heart broken when doctors told us she would never walk due to paralysis, but we know she was very excited when she took her very first steps with Jesus that Monday afternoon of her death.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to be announced.
