My Sister's Keeper Summary

The tale revolves around first-person accounts from different characters, covering a span of one and a half weeks. Sara Fitzgerald, a former lawyer, and stay-at-home mother shares the major portion of the story, moving from the past to the present. It all starts in 1990 when Sara’s two-year-old daughter, Kate, is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. Devastated by the news, Sara and her firefighter spouse, Brian, start Kate on treatment immediately. When Kate’s oncologist, Dr. Chance, suggests a bone marrow transplant from a related donor, the Fitzgeralds discover their son, Jesse, isn’t a match. The idea of another child is brought up, and Sara convinces Brian to conceive another daughter.

The narrative continues with Sara recalling Kate’s battle with her illness over the following fourteen years, and how their daughter Anna, a perfect genetic match for Kate, helps keep Kate alive through multiple medical procedures. Sara’s obsession with Kate’s illness strains her marriage to Brian, and also causes Jesse and Anna to rebel against her. The story then shifts to the present day where Anna, now thirteen, seeks legal representation from Campbell Alexander, a lawyer with a service dog, to sue her parents for medical emancipation. Sara is enraged by Anna’s decision, yet Brian empathizes with Anna’s perspective. The court assigns Julia Romano as Anna’s guardian ad litem, who shares a romantic history with Campbell, while Jesse copes with his guilty feelings of inadequacy through delinquency.

When Kate’s condition deteriorates, she is admitted to the hospital as Anna persists with the lawsuit. Sara decides to represent herself and Brian, prompting Brian to move Anna away from Sara to avoid her influencing Anna’s decision. Amidst all this, Campbell and Julia rekindle their old romance. During the trial, Anna reveals that it was Kate who had asked her to file the lawsuit. Campbell then experiences an epileptic seizure, disclosing his condition and the reason behind his service dog. Anna confesses that a part of her yearned for Kate’s death so she can have more freedom in life. The judge grants Anna medical emancipation and appoints Campbell for her medical power of attorney. On their way to the hospital, Campbell and Anna meet with a major accident, leaving Anna with irreversible brain damage. Campbell instructs the doctors to donate Anna’s kidney to Kate. The aftermath of Anna’s death, the family’s grief, and Kate’s survivor’s guilt are all encapsulated in the epilogue narrated by Kate.