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Kate is diagnosed with leukemia.
Kate was diagnose with acute promyolectic leukemia at the age of 2. Her mother, Sara, had began to notice bruises along Kate's spine, so she took Kate to the pediatrician. The doctor performed a number of tests on Kate's blood and concluded that she was diagnosed with leukemia. -
Sara proposes the idea of creating Anna.
Sara proposes to Brian the idea of having another baby. Brian initially assumes that she suggests the child wil replace Kate when she dies, but soon realizes Sara means to use the new baby (Anna) to save Kate. Sara told Brian that they would be able to pick out all the traits for the new baby so that she is a perfect donor match for Kate. -
Anna is born.
Anna is finally birthed the following year, after having all her traits arranged. The first thing Sara thinks about is preserving Anna's blood for Kate. Even while Sara is in labor, she solely thinks about how Anna will save Kate. "Although I am nine months pregnant, although I have had plenty of time to dream, I have not really considered the specifics of this child. I have thought of this daughter only in terms of what she will be able to do for the daughter I already have." (pg. 100) -
Kate meets Taylor Ambrose.
Kate meets Taylor Ambrose in the hospital during treatment. Kate learns that Taylor has a similar form of leukemia. Taylor and Kate immediately share a bond and begin to date, and soon Taylor asks Kate to the hospital prom. This is significant because Kate has finally met someone who understands her, and despite all the needles and procedures she deals with, she now has a weight lifted off her shoulders after meeting Taylor. Kate has discovered love. -
Taylor Ambrose dies.
3 days after the hospital prom, Taylor dies. Although Kate is unaware, Sara knows, but chooses not to tell her for another month. Once Kate finds out her mother knew all along, she is distraught and becomes incredibly angry with Sara. "I don't tell Kate...Not until the day Dr. Chance says Kate is well enough to leave the hospital, until Kate has already convinced herself she was better off without him." (320). Kate now feels as though she has no one left to rely on. -
Anna files a lawsuit against her parents.
Anna goes to see Campbell Alexander in order to file a petition for medical emancipation. Anna does not want to continue donating parts of her body since she has no say in the matter. "There is way too much to explain, and so I do the best I can. 'It's not God. Just my parents,' I say. 'I want to sue them for the rights to my own body.'" (Picoult 19). At this point, Anna is 13 years old and is fully aware of what has been going on. She feels as though she is used and in the shadows of Kate. -
Campbell files a restraining order against Sara.
Campbell files a restraining order against Sara for Anna so that Sara will not try to persuade Anna into giving up the lawsuit. Sara berates Anna and slaps her, despite Brian's plead to let Anna explain herself. This incident reveals Sara's close mindedness. At this point, there is immense tension among the characters. It is ironic because this all started in an effort to keep the family together, but now, Sara's family is being torn apart. -
Jesse constantly lashes out.
Throughout all of these events, Jesse has been setting different abandoned buildings on fire. Jesse acts like a delinquent in other ways as well, such as drinking alcohol excessively, but much of this behavior stems from anger over his inability to save Kate and his feelings of being ignored by his parents. -
Brian offers Anna to stay with him at the Firehouse.
Kate becomes seriously ill and must be hospitalized. Dr. Chance says she will die within a week. Anna refuses to change her mind about the lawsuit, however. At the hearing, Sara decides she will represent herself and Brian. Consequently, Brian takes Anna to stay with him at the fire station to give Anna some distance from her mother. He believes if they remain in the same house together, Anna may unwillingly cave to her mother’s wish that she donate her kidney. -
Campbell and Anna are involved in a car accident.
On the way to the hospital, Campbell and Anna get into a serious car accident. At the hospital, the doctors tell the family that Anna has irreversible brain damage. As Anna's medical guardian, Campbell tells the doctors to give Anna’s kidney to Kate. -
Anna takes the stand and tells the truth about Kate.
Reluctantly, Anna takes the stand and admits that she filed the lawsuit because Kate told her to. Anna explains that Kate asked her not to donate her kidney because she was tired of being sick and was waiting to die. Anna also admits that while she loves her sister, part of her wanted Kate to die, too, so that she could have more freedom with her life. Judge DeSalvo decides to grant Anna medical emancipation and gives Campbell medical power of attorney over her. -
Kate tells the story, set in 2010.
Kate is reflecting upon her and her family's grief and pain over the tragedy they went through when Anna died. Kate also mentions that she blames herself for the death of Anna.She knows, however, that she will always carry Anna with her.
