UPDATE: The Cerak’s and the VanRyn’s have recently written a book about their experience, you can order it here:
Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

Written by Carly Cerak on the VanRyn Blog (now shutdown):

We were told that Whitney was asking for us and when we saw her she was coherent enough to cry, so we all cried together. She immediately began to say “Let’s go home.” We spent the day crying and praising God for the ‘resurrection’ of Whitney. She began listing people she wanted to see, starting with our dad (who was on his way back from New York with the Youth Group). She kept telling us to call him and when she talked to him she told him she loved him and to “come over.” Matt, her boyfriend, arrived and she wanted him to lie down next to her. She blew us away with her detailed memory and ability to speak. Towards the end of the night she spoke clear sentences. When our dad arrived she grabbed his hand, my mom’s hand, and looked at Sandra and I and sighed like everything was finally right.

Today many of her friends have arrived and she has wanted to see them all but is very exhausted from yesterday. She saw a few of them and then wanted to sleep. Whitney woke up to someone bringing in flowers for her. This triggered something and she wanted to know who they were from and then she wanted to have all her family in the room. She began to cry and said “You think I’m dead.” We spent a good part of the afternoon comforting her as she has began to realize that she was in an accident and we weren’t with her for a while. Her tears are a mixture of joy and the fear of not knowing what has been going on. She took a break from crying when her therapist brought her actual food! Today she ate her first meal. She had grilled cheese, applesauce, and a milk shake. Within the next week she should be done with her tube and just eating food. After she ate she showed off her basketball skills and made three baskets in a row during physical therapy. She quickly slowed down and wanted to sleep again. Not only is it still unbelievable that she is alive but she has amazed us with her progress.

Earlier today my dad said, “Every time I look at Whitney I think of the Van Ryns.” We are so blessed and overjoyed about Whitney but our hearts and prayers are heavily on the Van Ryns.