A twist of fate

The reunion: May 31, 2006

Whitney Cerak’s mother and sister had driven five hours, not really daring to believe what they'd been told: that there was a chance that Whitney, who they'd lost, mourned, buried five weeks ago -- that Whitney was not dead, but alive.

Now, in the neuro wing of the rehab center, they slowly pushed open the door and looked at the young woman inside.

Colleen Cerak: And I remember just right away I could just tell it was Whitney. And I just said, "It's Whitney." And Carly just like pushed past me at that point just to run in there. And just almost like fumbled on top of her. Just loving her. Which woke Whitney up and she was just kind of shaking her head like, "Yes, it's Whitney."

Carly Cerak: We were all just crying and screaming. And just totally disregarding all the rules they had set up for the rooms. And they couldn't let us stay in the room very long. But it was amazing just to see her open her eyes.

Matt Lauer: Did she say anything?

Colleen Cerak: Well, we kept on saying her name. You know? It was like, "Whitney." And she was like shaking her head, "yes." Like, "Yes, it's Whitney." You know? It was pretty special.

Five weeks before, Whitney’s father Newell had been on a trip. Colleen had to call then and tell him Whitney was dead. He was on a trip again this time, but this call was different.

Newell Cerak: And Colleen goes, "it's Whitney." And I just immediately fell to the floor. And I go, "No." I go, "Hang up the phone." So she hung up and I called her because I just didn't believe it. I didn't believe this was possible.

Colleen Cerak: Like it was a dream. He had to make me call back.

Newell Cerak: And so I called back. And she goes, "I’m standing here and it's Whitney." And the first thought in my head was, "is there something wrong with her?" You know, because--

Colleen Cerak: What does she look like?

Newell Cerak: What does she look like. And she goes, "beautiful as ever."

There's a note in the daily medical chart: "Laura Van Ryn... Whitney Cerak... Mistaken identity." A few simple words that can't begin to convey the tide of emotions coursing through two families.

Whitney's family went from grief to disbelief to joy that their daughter was alive.

Laura's family went from hope to doubt to the final confirmation, through dental records, that Laura was gone.

Don Van Ryn: The hardest thing I ever had to do, Matt, was tell my sons that they had lost their sister. There's not the right words to say in that situation. And I mean I think I just fell to my knees and wept. And expressed to the rest of my family how much I was going to need them. I'm just going to need you all to get through this.

Matt Lauer: This may sound horrible. And please understand how I say this. Would it have almost been easier to lose Laura the night of the accident than after five weeks of what happened?

Susie Van Ryn: I don't know. We talk about that a little bit. But losing your child, your daughter, your son -- whenever it happens, it's not supposed to happen.

In the midst of their grief, there was also dread. What did Whitney’s family think of them? Th

Video   Watch the story After a college trip ended in tragedy, a young survivor was cared for by a family that began to suspect she’s not their daughter. Dateline NBC

e families met at the rehab center shortly after the Ceraks were reunited with Whitney.

Don Van Ryn: I think Susie had some of those feelings of, you know, "They're going to hate us. And we've kept them from their daughter all this time." And --  but it was a look on Colleen's face, wasn't it?

Susie Van Ryn: Yes.

Matt Lauer: A comforting --

Don Van Ryn: Compassionate.

Susie Van Ryn: Compassion. Which she knew -- she would know exactly how I was feeling at that moment. Because she had been there. And I would know how she felt getting her daughter. Seeing -- knowing that her daughter had survived.

Colleen Cerak: They gave us a hug. And I remember them saying they were so happy for us. And, you know, I just had to say -- you know how sorry I was to them for their loss.

Matt Lauer: Your family's had a miracle. But it means that their family has just had a tragedy.

Colleen Cerak: Yes. That was really hard. We had so much to be grateful to them for, but we knew what they were feeling.

Matt Lauer: You said something, Don, I think when you addressed them. "You must think we're the world's biggest dopes--"

Don Van Ryn: (laughs) Yeah.

Matt Lauer: --"not knowing our own daughter."

Don Van Ryn: I said “idiots.” I said that to Colleen and her retort was, “We love you guys. And don't even think that for a second." I mean it was very reassuring.

Later that day, Whitney’s father, Newell, arrived after driving 14 straight hours to get to his daughter.

Newell Cerak: When I finally got there she sat up and put her arms out like that. And I couldn't believe it. I just remember running over to her. And I just remember crying, calling her name over and over and over again. And that was just the moment. I mean it was just un--

Colleen Cerak: Being complete again.

Newell Cerak: Utter unbelief.

That same day, Laura’s sister once again updated her blog and delivered a message that stunned her readers around the world.

(Lisa Van Ryn’s blog)

We have some hard news to share with you today. 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 student of hers, Whitney Cerak … it is a sorrow and a joy for us to learn of this turn of events. For us, we will mourn Laura’s going home and will greatly miss her compassionate heart and sweetness while knowing that she is safe and with her king forever. We rejoice with the Ceraks, that they will have more time on this earth with their daughter, sister, and loved one … thanks again for the support that you've been. Please continue your prayers. Our God is good and continues to be our help, our guide, our comfort. We love you sweets.

Susie Van Ryn made one last entry in the prayer journal she had kept for five weeks, a journal she had intended to give to Laura:

(Susie Van Ryn prayer journal)

I do not know what to say! God, you are my refuge -- please protect me.

You are my strength -- I am entirely weak. You will give me peace and comfort -- please see me through the days ahead.

The two families had switched roles completely, as if they'd passed through a mirror.

Now it was Whitney’s family coping with a brain-injured patient, and a long road to recovery -- even as Laura’s family planned a funeral. But there was a big difference now: intense media coverage.

The story of the mix-up made national and world headlines. For Laura’s family, the attention was excruciating.

Susie Van Ryn: The worst part was seeing her picture all the time. That's my little girl. And I just want to do this quietly. I don't want everybody watching. So that was hard. We didn't answer the phone, so that wasn't very hard. We just quit answering the phone.

But they could not stop the questions. How did the mix-up happen? How did it go on so long?

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