Mistaken Identity

Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

By: Don & Susie Van Ryn, Newell Colleen & Whitney Cerak, Mark Tabb

Narrated by: Lillian Thayer

A grief reversed. A hope deferred. Mistaken Identity tells the unprecedented story of Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerak: one buried under the wrong name, and the other in a coma being cared for by the wrong family.

Five lives were lost in a tragic car accident, and the sole survivor was rushed to the hospital, where she remained in a coma for five weeks. Everyone believed that Laura Van Ryn was in a coma, and that Whitney Cerak had died in the crash—until Whitney woke up.

This shocking case of mistaken identity stunned the country and made national news. Would it destroy a family? Shatter their faith? Push two families into bitterness, resentment, and guilt? In Mistaken Identity, the Van Ryn family and the Cerek family describe their ordeal and explore the bond sustaining and uniting them as they deal with their bizarre reversal of life lost and life found.

Mistaken Identity weaves a complex tale of honesty, vulnerability, loss, hope, faith, and love in the face of one of the strangest twists of circumstances imaginable.©2008 Don Van Ryn, Susie Van Ryn, Colleen Cerak, Whitney Cerak, Newell Cerak; (P)2008 Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Best book ever

What a great story. This is the 2nd time for me. I read it the first time and listened the next. Still an amazing story.

Mistaken Identity

This story is truly awesome. The narrator does an excellent job!!!!!!!! This is one of the best books I have in my library and I have quite a few really good books in my library. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!!!!!

Beautiful testimony, lives well lived

Testimony of how we all should be living, sad yet beautiful to those who know Jesus and those who don’t or are curious about him. Shocking story, makes us all more aware of life and tragic death or death and life in itself. Especially Jesus, some things we will never know why, but look at all those lives touched and made stronger servant for or God our father!

Fascinating story, lots of "GOD" talk.

OK. This is a very interesting story. I had heard condensed versions before on mystery and true crime podcasts. The story here is told well by a good narrator, especially considering that the families are not authors.
BUT, in my opinion there is too much GOD talk. I guess now that I know the families are evangelical Christians, it makes sense. And their experience WAS deep. Maybe it is common in midwestern, small town communities. But I find it hard to believe people talk like this constantly. If that bothers you, it will bother you. If not, then it won't.
Good story, ok book.

God’s grace is amazing

This is a beautiful story of two families’ testimonies during a very difficult situation. I was moved to tears at times and encouraged by their trust in the Lord.