eyendastorm
06-02-2006, 07:03 AM
Case of mistaken identity stuns families
By Theodore Kim, USA TODAY
Thu Jun 1, 7:17 AM ET
The VanRyn family learned Wednesday that the patient they cared for and prayed for the past five weeks is not their Laura.
The young woman in the hospital bed, who suffered head injuries in an April 26 highway accident that killed five people, is Whitney Cerak.
Whitney's family thought they buried her weeks ago.
"We have some hard news to share with you today," the VanRyn family said in a blog at lauravanryn.blogspot.com, where it had been posting updates.
ON DEADLINE: Share comments and see link to the family's blog
"Our hearts are aching as we have learned that the young woman we have been taking care of over the past five weeks has not been our dear Laura, but instead a fellow Taylor (University) student of hers, Whitney Cerak."
Cerak, now 19, of Gaylord, Mich., is a freshman at the Upland, Ind., university, while VanRyn, 22, of Caledonia, Mich., was a senior.
Cerak is the one recovering at the rehabilitation facility in Grand Rapids, Mich., after a tractor-trailer struck the van she and VanRyn were riding in.
The VanRyn family said a "misidentification" was made at the time of the accident near Marion, Ind., and that the women shared an "uncanny" resemblance.
"Their body types are similar, their hair color and texture, their facial features, etc.," the family said.
In a posting soon after the crash, Lisa VanRyn, Laura VanRyn's sister, said her sister suffered broken bones, cuts and bruises and facial swelling.
For more than four weeks, VanRyn's family apparently had no doubts their patient was Laura.
On May 5, they reported that "the color in her face continues to improve."
As recently as May 16, they had written that she had "started talking to us last night! She's said 'hi' several times and repeated the phrase 'good morning' back to Mom this morning."
However, in the past couple of days, as their patient became more aware of her surroundings, she had been "saying and doing some things that made us question whether or not she was Laura," the family said.
Bruce Rossman, a hospital spokesman, said that when staff asked her name, she was able to write, "Whitney Cerak." On Tuesday, the VanRyns began the process of making a positive identification.
In a statement issued by both families, the VanRyns and Ceraks said dental records allowed them to finally sort through the misidentification.
"We now know without a doubt that this is Whitney," the VanRyns said on their blog.
Cerak's parents, Newell and Colleen Cerak, are now at their daughter's side, Joe Sereno, associate pastor at the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church said.
Ron Mowery, Grant County coroner, said Wednesday evening, "In this situation, there's no doubt there are things we could have ... (and) should have done."
By Theodore Kim, USA TODAY
Thu Jun 1, 7:17 AM ET
The VanRyn family learned Wednesday that the patient they cared for and prayed for the past five weeks is not their Laura.
The young woman in the hospital bed, who suffered head injuries in an April 26 highway accident that killed five people, is Whitney Cerak.
Whitney's family thought they buried her weeks ago.
"We have some hard news to share with you today," the VanRyn family said in a blog at lauravanryn.blogspot.com, where it had been posting updates.
ON DEADLINE: Share comments and see link to the family's blog
"Our hearts are aching as we have learned that the young woman we have been taking care of over the past five weeks has not been our dear Laura, but instead a fellow Taylor (University) student of hers, Whitney Cerak."
Cerak, now 19, of Gaylord, Mich., is a freshman at the Upland, Ind., university, while VanRyn, 22, of Caledonia, Mich., was a senior.
Cerak is the one recovering at the rehabilitation facility in Grand Rapids, Mich., after a tractor-trailer struck the van she and VanRyn were riding in.
The VanRyn family said a "misidentification" was made at the time of the accident near Marion, Ind., and that the women shared an "uncanny" resemblance.
"Their body types are similar, their hair color and texture, their facial features, etc.," the family said.
In a posting soon after the crash, Lisa VanRyn, Laura VanRyn's sister, said her sister suffered broken bones, cuts and bruises and facial swelling.
For more than four weeks, VanRyn's family apparently had no doubts their patient was Laura.
On May 5, they reported that "the color in her face continues to improve."
As recently as May 16, they had written that she had "started talking to us last night! She's said 'hi' several times and repeated the phrase 'good morning' back to Mom this morning."
However, in the past couple of days, as their patient became more aware of her surroundings, she had been "saying and doing some things that made us question whether or not she was Laura," the family said.
Bruce Rossman, a hospital spokesman, said that when staff asked her name, she was able to write, "Whitney Cerak." On Tuesday, the VanRyns began the process of making a positive identification.
In a statement issued by both families, the VanRyns and Ceraks said dental records allowed them to finally sort through the misidentification.
"We now know without a doubt that this is Whitney," the VanRyns said on their blog.
Cerak's parents, Newell and Colleen Cerak, are now at their daughter's side, Joe Sereno, associate pastor at the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church said.
Ron Mowery, Grant County coroner, said Wednesday evening, "In this situation, there's no doubt there are things we could have ... (and) should have done."