Aya Kitō

• Name — Aya Kitō • Native Name — 木藤 亜也 • Born — 19 July 1962 • Birthplace — Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan • Died — 23 May 1988 • Place of death — Japan • Death Cause — Spinocerebellar ataxia

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, Hiroki, Kentarō and Rika. At the age of 14, Kitō started writing a diary. From the age of 15, after her diagnosis, she used it to record her experiences, including her symptoms. At the age of 15, in her third year of junior high school, she complained of frequent falls and other physical problems, and was examined at Koseikai Hospital. Later, doctors diagnosed her with spinocerebellar ataxia, an intractable disease that gradually deprives a person of freedom of limbs and speech and eventually causes the loss of all motor functions of the body. Her friends helped her with climbing the stairs or walking, but it became harder for them and especially Kitō, so she went to a school for disabled people. Until the age of 25, Kitō'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. Kitō 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.

The authorities additionally record the headings Aya Kito and Aya Kitou. Her recorded language was Japanese. She was the child of Mizuo Kitō and Shioka Kitō.