Waking Up
When their daughter woke up from the coma, the two parents were overjoyed. Tears were falling on their cheeks as they held their daughter's hand. It all felt like a miracle.
Their daughter was finally awake, and hope was starting to fill their hearts. But when she finally started communicating with her parents, their world fell apart instantly.
Typical Student
Laura Van Ryn, a member of a family of four, was an ambitious student who was preparing to go to college soon.
Being a teenager, she was making the most of her younger years when tragedy struck and shook her entire family to the core. No one could prepare her parents and sister for what would come.
Normal School Day
Along with a few fellow students and their teachers, Laura went on a school trip to a town nearby in a rented van. They sang all the way to their destination, and everyone was having a good time.
On the way back, though, things didn't go so smoothly. Their trip was cut short by another driver's mistake.
Terrible Accident
While the van full of teenagers and school staff was returning, it was struck by a driver in a truck. The accident was described as disastrous by the witnesses and first responders.
There was debris everywhere, and everyone was doing their best to help the people inside. It was an unforgettable night for everyone at the scene.
Aftermath
The terrible car crash caused five people to lose their lives, including Whitney Cerak, Laura's friend, and many others injured.
Among the people who survived was Laura Van Ryn, but her state was worrying. She was unconscious, and the doctors were reserved about her future. They didn't know if she would pull through and recover from the trauma.
Never Leaving Her Side
While she lay on her hospital bed, her family never left her side. Someone was with her 24 hours out of 24, her family members exchanging shifts and ensuring that she was never left alone.
They made sure that someone was always with her while waiting for news from her doctors. But they warned the parents that it didn't look good for the teenager.
Coma
The once full-of-life girl was lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, with her parents waiting for updates. The doctors told them that her daughter was in a coma and it would be a long way to recovery.
The parents broke down in tears and vowed to do everything to help their beautiful girl. They couldn't believe what was happening to their family.
Different
Because of the accident, Laura suffered some serious damage. And her parents became even more worried that their daughter would never be the same when doctors told them how difficult her situation was.
Due to her brain injuries, she might act differently if she wakes up, and she might have a difficult time adjusting to her new life.
Hope
But her parents didn't want to give up hope and prayed every day for their daughter's recovery while never leaving her hospital bed.
Then the doctors came with updates that raised their expectations. Laura showed signs of improvement, and this meant good news, but nothing could prepare them for what came next.
Waking Up
The teen opened her eyes, and her family jumped with joy, hugging each other and smiling and not knowing how to thank the doctors. Laura started to improve little by little and even started to move and show small signs of trying to communicate.
But as she recovered and became more conscious, her family started to doubt her mental and physical health upon hearing their daughter's first words.
"I'm Not Your Daughter"
While she improved more and more, the teen managed to communicate with the family. She wrote on a piece of paper her name. Her family had spent countless sleepless nights at Laura's bedside before realizing Laura wasn't actually Laura.
The teen girl whom the Van Ryn's believed to be their daughter was, in fact, Whitney Cerak. Laura passed away during the accident, not Whitney as it was first believed. The family couldn't contain themselves upon hearing this.
Mistaken Identity
Whitney and Laura so closely resembled each other that their families and even authorities couldn't differentiate them. The Van Ryns became suspicious when Laura first yawned, and her teeth looked different than they remembered.
Then they discovered a belly button piercing, which they didn't remember Laura having. When the young woman began to regain her abilities, they asked her to write her name down. Instead of Laura, she wrote "Whitney." It became clear at that point that a terrible mistake was made.
Two Families, One Survivor
While the Ceraks got their daughter back, the Van Ryns had to make peace with their own loss. But the tragedy ultimately brought both families closer together.
"There are just some things that can't be explained," said Laura's father. Even in the midst of the crisis, faith has given the family strength to get through the tragic series of events
Revelations
After she woke up from the coma, Whitney had to hear all the details about her funeral. She was surprised at how honest people can be in such times, even if they speak kindly.
She jokingly said she found out that her pastor didn't consider her so good at sports, and her sibling believed she didn't shower enough. Regardless of what she's been through, she's been trying to take everything with a positive attitude.
A New Chance at Life
Whitney made a full recovery and managed to rebuild her life. She settled down on her own and became a Physical Education teacher.
She kept in touch with Laura's family as well and even contributed to their book about this entire ordeal. The book is called "Mistaken Identity" and details all the events that led to the revelatory discovery.