Mistaken Identity

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

by Don VanRyn [363.1 Van]

This is a heartbreaking, true story of a extremely deadly car accident that took place on April 26, 2008. Like me, you may have followed the story through CNN or other news sources. This story is chilling and absolutely riveting and comes highly recommended. I read this entire book in less than two days. Two girls, Whitney Cerek and Laura Van Ryn, who happen to look very similar in appearance, were students of Taylor University. Both were riding in the same van that was struck head on by a semi-truck. At the accident scene, these two girls were mistaken for one another by medics due to their similar appearance and Laura's purse lying next to Whitney in the grass. Whitney was alive, severely injured but believed to be Laura Van Ryn. Laura died at the scene, but was identified as Whitney Cerek. Whitney's parents were notified that their daughter was one of the students who did not survive the accident, and Laura's parents were told that their daughter was hospitalized with a severe head injury and was in a coma. When the Van Ryns first saw what they thought was their daughter, she was in a coma, tubes in her mouth and nose with her face was partially bandaged. The doctor's warned the family Laura may not look like herself. They did not question the identity. Laura Van Ryn's parents held vigil at a hospital for weeks nursing a woman they believed to be their daughter, Laura. The Cerek's buried what they thought was their daughter Whitney on Whitney's 19th birthday when in fact it was Laura Van Ryn. Over 1,400 people attended Whitney's funeral. As Whitney slowly came out of her coma, her behavior and things she said were not making sense. They also noticed a few physical traits that were different, but thought nothing of it. After five weeks, the Van Ryn family began to question whether this was really their Laura. After dental records were ordered and their worst fear confirmed, two families' worlds were once again torn apart. For two years the families were asked "how could you not know your own child?" Now the Cerek and Van Ryn families have come together to write the true story about their daughters' mistaken identity and how unwavering faith in god, helped both families cope with tragedy twice. -- recommended by Jessica H. - Walt Branch Library

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