Rico and Louisa Renati, aware their frail but lively daughter Maria has the rare Cooley's Anemia, peculiar to Italians, refuse Dr. Welby's suggestion on the operation. Dr. Jed Hartnet, a leading specialist in this type of disease who is ready to quit the profession , becomes intrigued with Maria and decides to fight her parents' decision.

Tracey Robbins has been plagued with diabetes for years and the disease has caused her to slowly lose her sight due to blood vessel malfunction. When her father fails to take her on a promised trip to Europe and her infatuation with Dr. Kiley undergoes a rude awakeing, the girl becomes withdrawn and refuses the operation.

Fearing that his bride-to-be, Kelly Green, will cancel their marriage plans, Dr. Kiley does not tell her the seriousness of the rheumatic disease she has contracted. Dr. Welby disagrees with his associate and, as her doctor, tells her the eventualities of such an illness when she insists on knowing.

Patricia Lowry, despondent over her chronic kidney ailment and fear that her husband, Duke, is having romantic affairs on his business trips, takes a tranquilizer that puts her in a coma.

When Dr. Kiley gives a ride to waitress Julie he learns her living situation is less then ideal. To earn a living she leaves 9 year old Casey in charge of Josh, who is 6. Josh also has seizures and Kiley tries to help.

A young nursed suffering from a rare genetic disease that can cause delusions, names Dr. Kiley as the father of her small son in a paternity suit.

Marshall is persuaded by Dr. Welby to defend Dr. Kiley in a paternity suit filed by Perry, a nurse who believes that the young doctor is the father of her child.