Also known as: Heart growing outside the body
Spirit is a 16-year-old patient born with ectopia cordis (heart outside her chest) who has been unable to have corrective surgery until now. Her heart has become enlarged due to pulmonary hypertension, requiring an experimental artificial sternum procedure to create room for her heart inside her chest.
Also known as: High blood pressure in the lungs
Spirit developed pulmonary hypertension after starting menstruation due to increased estrogen, which combined with her atypical vascular system caused her heart to grow too large for the originally planned surgery.
Also known as: Rejected transplanted liver
Eric, a young transplant recipient, experiences acute cellular rejection of his transplanted liver despite being on immunosuppressants. This drives the main plot involving finding a new donor liver from a death row inmate.
Also known as: Severe allergic reaction
The prisoner donor Boris Tirayan has a severe allergic reaction to anesthesia during the attempted liver transplant surgery, causing tongue and eye swelling and requiring intubation, which prevents the initial transplant surgery.