Phenomenal stuff! I am speechless. This heart-rending story grapples with some of live's most difficult questions and themes. Why are certain people afflicted with cruel illnesses, misfortune or tragedy whilst others live a comparatively easier life? Diseases are indifferent to those who get affected. Even if you are kind, intelligent, gifted, etc., dreams, hopes, and a future can be snatched from you in an instant. We often take life and good health in general for granted. We all aspire to fulfil our dreams and aspirations. We are often not happy with what we have and continue to strive to improve the quality of our lives. However, we often forget that there are people out there who are less fortunate than us, and who are pouring every ounce of their energy to just stay alive (getting by is an enormous challenge for some). The afflicted too have dreams; yet these dreams are often well outside of their reach. I cannot even begin to fathom what it must feel like to be diagnosed with an incurable disease, to see your movement and speech deteriorate gradually, to see dreams spiral into a void.
This story extraordinarily captures the progression of an incurable, debilitating disease that affects the life of a young girl (Aya). We see how her illness and worsening health critically affects those around her, namely her family, friends, doctors and school members.
The opening narrative sets the drama in context by showing us a seemingly healthy, capable, kind and happy young school girl enjoying her life. Unfortunately, she's oblivious to the incurable disease that is about to strike. The disease is a time-bomb, a sudden shift in tectonic plates just waiting to shatter the lives of those around an emotional epicenter.
Aya is 15 years old, talented in basketball, intelligent and full of life. After a few unusual incidences, it becomes clear to her mother that something is odd. Her mother's suspicion is confirmed with the heart-shattering news dropped by the neurologist who diagnoses Aya. The neurologist's words send shivers down everyone's spines: SCD, an incurable, degenerative disease that affects the peripheral nervous.
At first, Aya's mother refuses to accept the diagnosis. However, after the news sinks in, she wants Aya to be sheltered from the truth (at all cost) . The father who is generally upbeat and fully supportive of his children gets overwhelmed with anger and grief, for his daughter has been burdened to carry such a heavy and crushing fate. "The doctor must have made a mistake!" he vents.
One cannot hide the truth for too long... Aya realises that something is very odd about her illnesses. Using the internet, she finds out about her disease. When her findings get confirmed at the doctor's in the presence of her parents, we begin to understand that this is going to be one hell of an emotional roller coaster. When Aya asks the doctor, with tears in her eyes, why the disease had to choose her despite her only being 15 years old, the doctor gets stumped. Her piercing and desperate glance searches for an impossible answer... This was painful to watch. I cried.
The doctor is dedicating his life and energy to help patients who are are afflicted with this horrible disease. He realises the limits of scientific research and progress. It pains him to see that often his patients are the ones who have to console him and provide him with energy and motivation to keep persevering in his research to find a cure. His patients have such large resolve and desire to live, albeit their daily struggle, that one cannot help but feel moved and inspired.
This drama was incredibly realistic. The parents of Aya acted so well. I really liked her father and mother. They were genuinely compassionate and loved Aya and her siblings unconditionally. The amount of sacrifice the parents were willing to make to ease the suffering of their precious daughter was ineffable. Parents are truly great.
The scenes with Ayas's friends were also interesting, especially the one were the girl with the glasses admitted to the class (in the absence of Aya) that she was tired of having to look after Aya daily, and that it was affecting her studies. She loved Aya but she could not keep helping her indefinitely. When Aya was listening to how the class viewed her disability, it was harrowing. I cried again. Aya inevitably understood that her friends had dreams and ambitions, that it would be unreasonable to expect their help and indefinite presence. She must have felt like an obstacle to those around her. Whilst everyone was moving ahead, Aya was stuck in time, unable to accomplish her dreams. A sense of loneliness crept in. Even with her would-be boyfriend, things became complicated. Aya believed that a relationship in her state would be unfair on her boyfriend. It would be inconceivable. When she thanked him for his kindness and time in a letter that she wrote to terminate her relationship, I cried.
The acting was incredible throughout. Human thoughts and actions were portrayed realistically. The parents, Aya, the doctor, Aya's boyfriend, the boyfriend's father, etc., acted incredibly well. The script was superb. Cinematography, soundtrack... Bravo!
We must learn to appreciate life and find ways to play with the cards that we are dealt. Life is not fair, but we can look around us for inspiration to do whatever we can. Treasure every moment you can, because we may never know when it is too late, when it is time for us or someone else to go. Cherish your family and parents in particular, for they have raised you and are willing to stake so much for your health, happiness and wellbeing.
10/10! A must watch.
The opening narrative sets the drama in context by showing us a seemingly healthy, capable, kind and happy young school girl enjoying her life. Unfortunately, she's oblivious to the incurable disease that is about to strike. The disease is a time-bomb, a sudden shift in tectonic plates just waiting to shatter the lives of those around an emotional epicenter.
Aya is 15 years old, talented in basketball, intelligent and full of life. After a few unusual incidences, it becomes clear to her mother that something is odd. Her mother's suspicion is confirmed with the heart-shattering news dropped by the neurologist who diagnoses Aya. The neurologist's words send shivers down everyone's spines: SCD, an incurable, degenerative disease that affects the peripheral nervous.
At first, Aya's mother refuses to accept the diagnosis. However, after the news sinks in, she wants Aya to be sheltered from the truth (at all cost) . The father who is generally upbeat and fully supportive of his children gets overwhelmed with anger and grief, for his daughter has been burdened to carry such a heavy and crushing fate. "The doctor must have made a mistake!" he vents.
One cannot hide the truth for too long... Aya realises that something is very odd about her illnesses. Using the internet, she finds out about her disease. When her findings get confirmed at the doctor's in the presence of her parents, we begin to understand that this is going to be one hell of an emotional roller coaster. When Aya asks the doctor, with tears in her eyes, why the disease had to choose her despite her only being 15 years old, the doctor gets stumped. Her piercing and desperate glance searches for an impossible answer... This was painful to watch. I cried.
The doctor is dedicating his life and energy to help patients who are are afflicted with this horrible disease. He realises the limits of scientific research and progress. It pains him to see that often his patients are the ones who have to console him and provide him with energy and motivation to keep persevering in his research to find a cure. His patients have such large resolve and desire to live, albeit their daily struggle, that one cannot help but feel moved and inspired.
This drama was incredibly realistic. The parents of Aya acted so well. I really liked her father and mother. They were genuinely compassionate and loved Aya and her siblings unconditionally. The amount of sacrifice the parents were willing to make to ease the suffering of their precious daughter was ineffable. Parents are truly great.
The scenes with Ayas's friends were also interesting, especially the one were the girl with the glasses admitted to the class (in the absence of Aya) that she was tired of having to look after Aya daily, and that it was affecting her studies. She loved Aya but she could not keep helping her indefinitely. When Aya was listening to how the class viewed her disability, it was harrowing. I cried again. Aya inevitably understood that her friends had dreams and ambitions, that it would be unreasonable to expect their help and indefinite presence. She must have felt like an obstacle to those around her. Whilst everyone was moving ahead, Aya was stuck in time, unable to accomplish her dreams. A sense of loneliness crept in. Even with her would-be boyfriend, things became complicated. Aya believed that a relationship in her state would be unfair on her boyfriend. It would be inconceivable. When she thanked him for his kindness and time in a letter that she wrote to terminate her relationship, I cried.
The acting was incredible throughout. Human thoughts and actions were portrayed realistically. The parents, Aya, the doctor, Aya's boyfriend, the boyfriend's father, etc., acted incredibly well. The script was superb. Cinematography, soundtrack... Bravo!
We must learn to appreciate life and find ways to play with the cards that we are dealt. Life is not fair, but we can look around us for inspiration to do whatever we can. Treasure every moment you can, because we may never know when it is too late, when it is time for us or someone else to go. Cherish your family and parents in particular, for they have raised you and are willing to stake so much for your health, happiness and wellbeing.
10/10! A must watch.