December 9, 2024 
By M. Regina Cram
It was 2006, and eight Taylor University students plus a chaperone were returning to campus when a huge semi barreled across the median and slammed into their van.
Four students and the chaperone were killed immediately. The others were gravely injured.
The coroner later described the scene as the worst he had witnessed in his 30 years on the job. The living and the dead were strewn across the highway, along with backpacks, wallets, twisted metal, and debris.
Among the students were Whitney Cerak and Laura VanRyn. Whitney was pronounced dead at the scene; Laura suffered a devastating brain injury and was in a deep coma. As the Ceraks buried their daughter, the VanRyns began a round-the-clock vigil at Laura’s bedside.
For five long weeks, their vigil continued. Slowly, Laura regained a vague consciousness.
One day, a therapist asked her to write her name.
Laura Van Ryn wrote, ‘Whitney Cerak.’
Dental records confirmed that the patient was, in fact, Whitney Cerak. In the chaos of the accident, the identities of the similar-looking girls had been confused. This stunning news brought explosive joy to one family while plunging the other into unparalleled grief.
How can this be? How can life turn into death, and death turn into life?
*******
The book Heaven is for Real tells the story of almost four-year-old Colton Burpee, who suffered a burst appendix. As surgeons worked frantically to save him, Colton went into cardiac arrest. By the grace of God, the child survived.
Several months later, Colton told his mother, “When I was in heaven, I saw a man who wrote on his skin in marker.”
“You were in heaven? What man?” his mother asked, confused.
“The man was Jesus,” Colton explained, “but He only had a red marker. He didn’t have any other colors.” Colton pointed to his hands, feet, and side – the wounds of Christ. “That’s where the red marks were.”
Colton had never seen a crucifix.
Another day, Colton announced, “I saw my sister.” “Yes, sweetheart,” the mother replied. “She’s down the hall.”
“No, I mean my big sister in heaven.” Colton’s parents had never told him about the miscarriage they’d suffered before he was born.
“We sat on Jesus’ lap and played together,” Colton continued. “But my sister told me to ask you a question. She wants to know, “’Can I please have a name?’”
*****
A two-year-old child was standing under a garage door when the safety mechanism failed, and the door crashed down on her little body. And yet, two weeks later, the girl was fine. Doctors had no explanation.
One day, the child saw a painting of angels. “Look, Mama! The birdies!” she squealed.
Her mother smiled. “No, sweetheart, those aren’t birdies. They’re angels.”
“No!” the child insisted. “Those are birdies! They’re the birdies who kept me safe when I was stuck under the door.”
*****
Occasionally, we’re privileged to see a glimpse of eternity. After all, aren’t heaven and earth simply two rooms separated by a thin veil?
Be not afraid.
M. Regina Cram is a published author and parishioner of SS. Isidore and Maria Parish.
