After enduring tragedies with earlier pregnancies, Martina and Derek Johnson have high hopes for their next baby. But the infant is born much too early and shows no signs of life in the delivery room. Dr. Sarah Belden must make a split-second decision: declare the severely premature baby to be stillborn and let nature take its course, or do everything possible to save him.

Sarah feels duty-bound to resuscitate the tiny infant and does so with great skill. The child survives, but as he grows it becomes clear that the young boy is severely disabled. Struggling to raise their son, the Johnsons are crushed by medical debt and grow weary from stress. Feeling responsible for their misfortune, Sarah repeatedly second-guesses her decision and is tormented by self-doubt that threatens to destroy her promising career and tear apart her own budding family.

The desperate parents reluctantly agree to drag themselves and Sarah Belden through the nobody-wins ordeal of a medical malpractice lawsuit. As the lawyers battle, a remarkable witness comes forward whose testimony can change the course of events.