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Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope | 
 enlarge | Authors: Don & Susie Van Ryn, Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak
Creator: Mark Tabb
Publisher: Howard Books
Category: Book
List Price: $21.99
Buy New: $12.52
You Save: $9.47 (43%)
New (39) Used (14) Collectible (2) from $9.44
Rating:  136 reviews
Sales Rank: 1672
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.7 x 1.3
ISBN: 1416567356
Dewey Decimal Number: 617.4810440922
EAN: 9781416567356
ASIN: 1416567356
Publication Date: March 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Also Available In:
| • | Hardcover - Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope (Thorndike Press Large Print Core Series) | | • | Kindle Edition - Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope | | • | Audio CD - Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope | | • | Audio Download - Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope (Unabridged) | | • | Paperback - Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope |
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Product Description
Meet Laura Van Ryn and Whitney Cerak: one buried under the wrong name, one in a coma and being cared for by the wrong family.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? Read this unprecedented story of two traumatized families who describe their ordeal and explore the bond sustaining and uniting them as they deal with their bizarre reversal of life lost and life found. And join Whitney Cerak, the sole surviving student, as she comes to terms with her new identity, forever altered, yet on the brink of new beginnings. 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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 A Great Read March 29, 2008
MommaT
61 out of 68 found this review helpful
I couldn't put this book down. It was such a compelling read that I kept turning page after page wanting to know what came next...eventhough I already knew how it ended. It is beautifully written, almost like reading a fiction book, and yet, of course, frightenly real. It is tragic that this actually happened, but I'm thankful to each family that they have chosen to tell their story. To share with us the grace and mercy, and abundant love that these two families have for one another. They have been a wonderful example of how we, too, can love and forgive, and have compassion towards one another when life doesn't play out how we would like. This book makes me want to live a deeper faith-filled life and always love and have faith...no matter what!
Hollywood could never have dreamed this up! April 4, 2008
Rizzo (Denver, CO)
48 out of 55 found this review helpful
If you can think what is the most outrageous unbelievable story you heard in your lifetime, it has to be this; the daughter you buried is not yours, and the injured daughter you nursed for five weeks was not yours. Although tragedies often evolve into miracles, this combination was never meant to be.
After a tragic accident on an Indiana highway, two blond girls of similar features were mistaken for one another. Whitney Cerak lived but was comatose, while Laura Van Ryn actually died, but was sent to the hospital to be treated. Misidentification! It was a result coroner's carelessness, and with that, unimaginable consequences upon two families.
The book, written with help of author Mark Tabb, starts with the section about the events of discovery, on the Cerak's part, that their daughter may be alive. Then, the story begins and reveals extensive detail of care by the Van Ryns who believed their daughter was alive, but was hurt badly. This is simple and non-pretentious writing, because it is merely your average God-loving families with deep religious faith.
Connecting with the readers
As you read, you begin to really understand the two families, their feelings, fears, surprises, stamina, hope, faith, etc. And if you are unfamiliar with their dedicated passages, you too, can learn and be inspired. Read Laura's sister Lisa's amazing faithful internet blog for updates and then you have Susie Van Ryn's touching prayer journal. Learn about the emotional passages said during the Cerak funeral.
Compassionate People
You will learn the true compassion of strangers, the offering of the Samaritan house to the Van Ryns; the couple who owned the pizza shop and brought so much pizza and bottled water to ICU. You will hear how the Van Ryns were surprised their neighbors cut the grass while the family was bedside to Laura. You will learn how the Ceraks through their grief received so many flowers, food, cookies, notes, cards and how they sat and listened intently to each of many phone messages offering comfort.
False Parents
I had to laugh at what Don Van Ryn said when he learned that his Laura referred to them as false parents. With that, you feel compassion for this family as they wrestled with the phrase "false parents."
And then, share in the exchange of discovery that changed their lives, and the miracle of the Ceraks that could only be dreadful tragedy for the Van Ryns.
This is a wonderful story that Hollywood could not have dreamed up! I have children, I feel for these amazing people, all of them. Marrianne Rizzuto
Amazing and heartbreaking story March 27, 2008
Bryan L. Hutchinson
42 out of 48 found this review helpful
This story captured the nation and many of us wondered if this could happen to us or someone we love. The feelings, the emotions, sometimes these get over looked when hearing news stories, but this book brings us into the very improbably and unparalleled incident directly. My heart reaches out to these families and wish them the best as they move forward. Go beyond the news, the bits and pieces and learn the full reality of two families who are joined by both the deepest sorrow and confused joy at the same time. Like many others, I am still grasping to understand how anyone can handle such news and this really shows how strong and vital faith can be. Blessings.
Bryan Hutchinson
Author of:
One Boy's Struggle: A Memoir: Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADD
A Story of Faith, Hope and Love..... March 30, 2008
kjh (Michigan, United States)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful
I am good friends with the parents of one of these families. I know how hard it was for them to tell their story... to open themselves up in this way. However, they obviously felt compelled to share knowing it would be a way of giving testimony to the faithfulness of God.... no matter what the circumstance. Both families share their stories in a very real way. They bring the reader into the most unbelievable, heartwrenching situations that for them were all too real. Hopefully as you read of their journey you will feel uplifted, grateful, challenged and more aware of the loving God these families have found to be so faithful and good.
An easy but gripping read! April 1, 2008
J. Neiswonger (California)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
The name of the book caught my eye, so I picked it up to read the description on the back. I had never heard of this event on the news and thought at first it was fiction. I gave it a chance and was stunned to find out this was a true story. What made this book so great were my own curiosity and the way the writers answer all my questions. It takes you step-by-step through the five and one half weeks. Somehow the parents have written it a way that you are able to see into their lives and thoughts. It is an easy read and to the point, which makes it nice.
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