Conceived by means of in vitro fertilization, Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was brought into the world to be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva), who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia. Because of her sister's dependency on her, Anna is unable to live the life she wants; in and out of the hospital constantly, she cannot take part in extracurricular activities such as cheerleading or soccer. When Kate turns 13 she goes into renal failure. Knowing that she will have to donate one of her kidneys to her sister, Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation and the rights to her own body. Attorney Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin) agrees to work for Anna pro bono. The film is interlaced with flashbacks that detail the strong relationship between Kate and Anna, as well as how Kate's illness has affected her siblings' lives. Before the result of the case is known, it is revealed that Kate had asked Anna to file for medical emancipation. Believing that she would not survive the surgery, Kate wants to die. Anna wins the case, and due to her sister's wishes does not donate her kidney. Kate later dies at the hospital. The family moves on with their lives, being changed by Kate's death, but every year on Kate's birthday they go to Montana, which was her favorite place in the world.
The story follows the life of 13- year-old Anna Fitzgerald, who enlists the help of an attorney, Campbell Alexander, to sue her parents, Brian and Sara Fitzgerald for rights to her own body. Kate Fitzgerald, Anna's older sister, suffers from leukemia, and their parents conceived Anna through in vitro fertilization to be a genetic match donor for her sister Kate. Anna donates genetic material throughout her life, including blood and bone marrow for her sister. Their parents want Anna to donate a kidney to Kate after she goes into renal failure, but Anna instead files a lawsuit against her parents for medical emancipation from her parents despite the consequences of her sister's health.
Her parents, Brian and Sara Fitzgerald, have different reactions to the law suit. Brian has mixed feelings whereas, Sara feels that Anna should donate the kidney to save Kate's life. Sara is a lawyer turned housewife and decides to represent herself and her husband in the suit. She continuously attempts to get Anna to drop the suit, but Anna refuses and moves out of the house and into the fire station where her father works.
After Kate's cancer diagnosis, Jesse Fitzgerald, Brian and Sara's oldest child, grows up to be a troublemaker involved in alcohol, drugs, theft, and arson. Throughout the book an arsonist frequently sets fires in the area, a problem for Brian and his colleagues. After following the clues, Brian discovers that the arsonist was Jesse. Following which, Brian confronts Jesse and learns how badly Kate's illness has affected him. Brian vows to keep Jesse's arson a secret. Jesse eventually straightens himself out later on becoming a police officer.
The judge at the hearing, Judge DeSalvo, is a parent who lost his 12-year-old daughter in a drunk-driving accident. The guardian ad litem assigned to Anna as her representative is Julia Romano, an old girlfriend of Campbell's.
Campbell and Sara bring in their witnesses and battle over whether Anna is mature enough for medical emancipation. Julia, who is supposed to deliver a report about who she thinks should win, is undecided. Anna, who has refused to testify, is the last witness to speak. She reveals that Kate told her that she did not want Anna to go through with the transplant. Which was why Anna filed the lawsuit. The judge decides in favor of Anna and gives Campbell medical power of attorney over her.
Anna dies in a car wreck soon after she is emancipated from her parents. Her kidneys, and other organs, are donated to Kate, and other patients that might need them.
Kate believes that the reason she survived is because someone had to go, and Anna took her place. She grows up to be a dance instructor and whenever she'd missed her sister, she'd look at the scars from the kidney transplant and believe she took Anna wherever she went.
Ps : See how different the ending between the movie and the book is ?
honestly, i preferred the ending in the book, as its more exciting. Rather than the usual cliche happy ending, in this case not so happy. If they would have followed the book, the movie would be better (:
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