If you are headed to see My Sister's Keeper, the latest tearjerker from The Notebook director Nick Cassavetes, I would suggest bringing along a big box of tissues. You will probably need them. The film is a poignant and well put together story of a family who is struggling to survive and remain alive while suffering through the reality of a child who is dying of cancer. It is an intense and sometimes painful look at how hard a family fights to keep one of their own from the pain of death and what exactly it takes to save a life.

The movie, based upon the book of the same name by Jodi Picoult, focuses upon Anna, the youngest member of the Fitzgerald family. Anna is not dying. Her older sister Kate is the one suffering from leukemia. Anna is a "designer baby" who was genetically designed to serve as a donor for all the needs Kate will have throughout her battle against the disease.

Since as early as her very birth she has had various pieces taken from her and donated to her sister for the sole purpose of giving Kate a better chance at surviving her illness. After many years of needles, hospitalizations, and pain, though, Anna has decided enough is enough and she no longer wishes to be spare parts for her older sister. Despite her very young age she essentially begins the film by visiting a locally well-known, slick attorney and convinces him to help her sue her own parents for "medical emancipation" and the ability to say no to future operations and regain control of what happens to her own body.

Anna's actions, of course, confuse and anger her parents, specifically her mother, Sara, who immediately lashes out in extreme rage at the unwillingness of Anna to save her older sister from what is certain death without her help. Sara is understandably upset. From the moment she discovered her daughter Kate was sick, she has dedicated her entire life to saving her. She quit her job, enlisted the help of her sister Kelly, and spends every waking moment working toward curing Kate's disease. She was the one who ultimately decided to have another child in order to provide for the physical health needs of Kate. After giving up so much and truly believing the entire family was completely dedicated to helping save Kate's life, she is shocked and bewildered by Anna's desire to no longer sacrifice her own body and health for the sake of her sister.

From a human perspective, Anna's decision makes sense. Kate's survival is completely dependent on Anna's willingness to sacrifice her own life, future, and well-being for the sake of another. Not only is that a huge burden to place on such a young child, it was never something she was given a choice about. It was as if she were created with one purpose, and that involved a built-in sacrifice that she was never really given the choice about making. In reality, she does have a choice, though, as we always do have a choice, whether or not to give up her life to give another the chance to live; and she decides that she is not willing to sacrifice herself for her sister's sake.

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