Mistaken Identity - Don & Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak with Mark Tabb

From the back:

A grief reversed. A hope deferred. The stunning true story of two families trading places from graveside to bedside.

Five lives were lost in a tragic accident involving a Taylor University van, and one young woman, severely injured and comatose, was rushed to the hospital.

Five funerals were held. Families, faculty, students and communities grieved their losses and joined in prayer and hope as the one young woman, Laura Van Ryn, fought for her life in a hospital bed. The national news spread the story, and people everywhere shared the grief and the hope.

Five weeks passed for the Cerak family. Believing they had buried their
daughter, the Ceraks clung to their faith and worshipped Gof through their tears, learning to look forward with hope to an eternal reunion with their lovely daughter Whitney. They spent weeks of mourning and grief surrounded by loved ones, slowly moving toward healing.

Five weeks passed for the Van Ryns. Keeping a constant bedside vigil over their precious daughter Laura, they sat and prayed and hoped. Confronted with tubes and surgeries, vital signs and healing signs, they rejoiced at each tiny advance toward recovery. Their friends and church and family members, along with a steady stream of students, celebrated with them each sign of Laura's healing.

And then the shock!

"Okay, Laura, I would like you to write your name for me," the occupational therapist said.

W-H-I-T-N-E-Y

An event that could be seen as pure tragedy becomes a celebration of life's unfathomable gifts and mysteries.

Amazing and heartbreaking story. I don't really have the words to express my feelings about this book. I am not a religious person, but both of the families affected by this tragedy really relied on their faith to pull them through these horrific events.

It was eerily odd to read about Taylor University and the towns of Caledonia and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Grand Rapids is about an hour north of my hometown, and I am familiar with the hospital and rehabilitation center where Whitney recovered.

My heart goes out to these families. It's really incredible the bond they forged and that they were able to adopt a positive attitude through their tragedy.