The immune response is a wonderfully complex aspect of our physiology that can sometimes confound students and instructors alike. How do we wade through the layers of detail to help our students develop an understanding of immunology? In this article, I will share some of the stories about immunology research that helped me strengthen my own understanding and improve my approach to helping students learn and understand this topic. In addition, we will explore some of the research on the power of storytelling, and how learning through stories might be a defining characteristic of what it means to be human.