Anna is thirteen. When her older sister, Kate, was two, Kate was diagnosed with leukemia. Kate survives the first part of her crisis, but if she would happen to need stem cells in the future, no one in the family is a match for her. At that point, her mother suggests that she and her husband have another child, a product of invitro fertilization whose genes indicate is a perfect match for helping Kate, if needed in the future. That child is Anna. Anna's cord blood cells are saved at birth, and they do help Kate fight the leukemia. Eventually, Anna is brought in to give blood cells and bone marrow. Kate, now age 16, is suffering from kidney failure, and her only hope is a kidney donation. Anna finds an attorney to help her file a lawsuit to allow her to be the one to decide her medical future, to give her the final say.
The story takes place over the course of about ten days, with numerous flashbacks into the past, along with a glimpse into the future at the end. The story's viewpoint alternates around each of the major characters, giving us their viewpoints. One just doesn't know how this family is going to survive the strain. It's an excellent treatise on an important topic, reminiscent of a few real-life stories that touch on its theme.
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