I'M In My Stories: 20200715 Aya Kito

Wednesday, 15 July

#Today I wanna write about Aya Kito. Yesterday I have posted a blog about Japanese Drama 1 Litre of Tears, and I curious about the character of Aya. So, I searched about her in Wikipedia.

I took this article based on the website https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_Kit%C5%8D

Aya Kitō (木藤亜也, Kitō Aya, July 19, 1962 – May 23, 1988) was a Japanese diarist. She wrote about her personal experiences living with spinocerebellar ataxia which was later published in the book 1 Litre no Namida.

Aya Kitō was born to Shioka, a nurse, and her husband Mizuno, an office worker. She was the oldest of five siblings, the other four being Ako Kitō, Hiroki Kitō, Kentaro Kitō, and Rika Kitō.

At the age of 15, in 1977, Aya was diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia. Her friends helped her with climbing the stairs or walking. But it went harder for them and especially Aya, so she went to a school for disabled people. Until the age of 25, Aya's health continually worsened, and she was eventually unable to complete daily tasks (ADLs). She eventually became confined to her bed and was unable to walk or speak.

Before being diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia, at the age of 14, Aya had started writing a diary. From the age of 15, after her diagnosis, she used it to record her experiences, including her symptoms.

Aya had the incurable disease for 10 years and experienced both emotional and physical pain, which was subsequently stressful to her family as well. Her family, however, continued to support her for the remainder of her life.

Aya Kitō died as a result of her disease on May 23, 1988, only two months before her 26th birthday. She also contracted uremia due to organ failure. Her body was donated for medical research.

I liked Aya's quotes. These are some her quotes that I took from the website https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3344613.Aya_Kito :
1. I want to be like the air. The good-hearted person whose kindness overflows and people realize how important she was to them, once she is gone. I want to be that kind of person.
2. Don't worry, even if you fall over! It's all right. You can just pick yourself up again!
When you fall over, make the most of the chance to look up and see the sky.
You will see the blue sky spreading endlessly above you and smiling down.
Aya, you are alive!

3. I really don’t want to say things such as ‘I want to go back as to how things were before.’ I recognize how I am right now, and I will continue to live on.

4. Death is not fearful. What's fearful is giving up.

5. Why did this disease choose me? I cannot carry it, if its just for the word: Fate.

6. I put my hand on my chest. I can feel my heart beating. My heart is working. I'm pleased. I'm still alive.

7.The reality of today

Is too cruel, too severe,
And doesn't even offer me a dream;
Imagining the future
Brings me yet another kind of tears.

8. I felt someone behind me. I stopped and looked back... There was Mom, crawling behind me, without saying anything... Her tears falling to the floor... All my suppressed emotions suddenly burst out and I started crying.

9. Is it all right for me to stay alive?

Mom, is it really all right for an ugly person like me to be living in this world? Mom, I'm sure you can find something shining brightly in me. Teach me. Guide me!

10. I'm scared.

I can't move . . . I'm beaten.
I want to live!
I can't move, I can't do anything useful to other people.
But I want to live.
I want to be understood . . .