Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope
Author(s)	Don and Susie Van Ryn; Newell, Colleen and Whitney Cerak; and Mark Tabb
Country	USA
Language	English
Publisher	Howard Books
Publication date	March 25 2008
Media type	Hardcover
Pages	288
ISBN	978-1416567356
OCLC Number	191758333
Dewey Decimal	617.4/810440922 B 22
LC Classification	RC1045.P78 M57 2008

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope is a best-selling non-fiction book describing a case where the identities of two young women were confused after a car crash. It was published by Howard Books on March 25 2008. The book lists its authors as Don and Susie Van Ryn; Newell, Colleen and Whitney Cerak; and Mark Tabb. Don and Susie Van Ryn are the parents of Laura Van Ryn, the girl initially believed to be alive who was actually dead. Newell and Colleen are the parents of Whitney Cerak, the survivor of the crash who was believed to be dead. Mark Tabb is a former pastor whom the New York Times described as "the go-to guy when a collaborator is needed on books with spiritual themes."^[1]

On April 26 2006, a Taylor University van carrying 9 students and staff members collided with a tractor-trailer being driven by Robert F. Spencer on Interstate 69 in Indiana.^[2] Five people riding in the van died in the crash. Elizabeth Smith, Laurel Erb, Bradley Larson, and Monica Felver were killed in the crash, as was a young blonde woman the coroner identified as Whitney Cerak.^[2] A similar looking woman who was in a coma was identified as Laura Van Ryn.^[3] The Van Ryn family cared for the woman they believed to be their daughter by keeping a bedside vigil for several weeks.^[3] However, five weeks after the crash it was discovered that the surviving woman was not Laura Van Ryn, but instead Whitney Cerak.^[4]

The discovery of the mixup after the crash received international attention.^[5] The book's release also received great media attention. The book was the subject of a two-hour special on Dateline NBC, another hour on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and was also featured on the Today Show.^[2][5] The book was #1 for two weeks on the adult non-fiction New York Times Best Seller list in 2008.

See also

• Alone (House) -- an episode from the television show House that features a similar theme.
• And Here's To You, Mrs Azrael (CSI: NY episode) -- an episode from the television show CSI: NY that features a similar mistaken identity theme.

References

1. ^ Garner, Dwight (13 April 2008). "Inside the List". The New York Times: p. 26. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/books/review/13tbr.html?scp=1&sq=%22mistaken+identity%22&st=nyt. Retrieved 13 November 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Taylor 'Mistaken Identity' case relived in book. WBBM Newsradio 780. March 28 2008.
3. ^ ^{a b} Crash survivor is mistaken for dead victim - and cared for by the wrong family. The Daily Mail. March 27 2008.
4. ^ 'Mistaken Identity: Two Families One Survivor, Unwavering Hope' Gaylord Herald Times. March 1 2008.
5. ^ ^{a b} Families speak about switched identity ordeal. MSNBC. By Mike Celizic. March 27 2008.

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