Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful feeling

~Aya Kitou

Huhu. Indeed I cried 1 litre of tears watching this drama.

I just finished it today. Suddenly I’m more grateful with my life, especially my healthy body! Such simple things to us, talking, walking, eating even breathing could be really difficult for someone else. This drama is based on the true story of a girl, Aya Kitou who suffered spinocerebellar degeneration disease. It’s a rare, progressive, degenerative disease which affects the nervous system that control movement. Initially patient will experience failure of muscle controls in their arms and legs resulting in lack of balance and clumsiness. Slowly, patient will lose control of other fine motor skills such as speech and eye movements. Usually a patient with this disease will end up needing to use a wheelchair and will need assistance to perform daily tasks. The age of onset and progression of the disease varies between each patient but generally patient retains their full mental capacity as they lose control over their body. So, this disease somehow is like a prison.

Currently there is no known cure for this disease.

Aya was diagnosed with the disease when she was 15 years old. At her doctor’s suggestion, she wrote a diary of her experience with the disease, recording every day how the disease was affecting her daily life. This was a way for her doctor to monitor the progression of the disease. But later as the disease progressed, it became an outlet for her to pour out her intense feelings and her struggles in coping, adapting and trying to survive her disease. She kept writing until she could no longer hold a pen. The diary was published two years before her death and it inspired many people. It was based on this diary that the drama was made.

The published diary

Aya Ikeuchi in the drama was an active normal teenager who excels in her studies and active in sports. She was only beginning the most exciting phase of her life. It was really painful and difficult for her at first to accept the disease. To slowly lose her ability to do things she love, to let go of her social life and to become more dependent on others. The drama successfully depicts the pain Aya goes through because of the disease. It must be really frustrating to not be able to move your body as you want it to even when you've tried your very best. But she stays strong till the end and it was really heart wrenching to see her trying her best to get on with life. There is not a single episode that I do not cry. And so excessively that my eyes are swollen right now T______T

This blogger has written a review of the drama which I feel described it best. Please read here. Please watch this great drama too. Seriously, it’s good.

Working in a hospital environment also has got this effect on me. When I met those unfortunate patients especially young children with rare, incurable eye disease. Or babies with developmental delay or other syndromes that came for eye assessment. Every time I became more grateful that I may not have so many things that I want but at least I am healthy and living this beautiful live. With that I should be happy and be more appreciative towards many other things that I have. Let’s cherish this life more people!

I am so emotional right now. Huuu..

p/s: Tisu Tesco sangat fragile, tidak memuaskan. Sila gunakan jenama Kleenex atau Scott untuk lebih efektif semasa menonton drama ini=p