Wish comes true
A life-threatening heart defect limits Dasha Doyle's ability to run as much as other girls her age.
But thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the 11-year-old can still play.
Dasha, who has Down syndrome, was adopted from a Ukrainian orphanage two years ago by Carey and Shayne Doyle of Butler. The couple also adopted another daughter, Katya, 10, who also has Down syndrome.
However, Dasha also is battling a heart defect that left holes in each chamber of her heart.
“She has a full AV canal defect,” Carey Doyle said.
The condition has led to the development of Eisenmenger's Syndrome, a condition that affects blood flow from the heart to the lungs.
Babies in the United States with the condition receive corrective surgery under 6 months of age. But Dasha never received the surgery in the Ukraine, and now the damage is already done.
“If they did the surgery now, she wouldn't be able to breathe,” Doyle said.
Dasha's blood pumps rapidly from her heart, which has hardened her lungs.
Doyle said she and her husband, who have five biological children between 2 and 9 years old, started looking into international adoption after she gave birth to a daughter who has Down syndrome.
“I found out a lot what was happening in Eastern Europe,” Doyle said, adding children with Down syndrome in the Ukraine are often institutionalized in adult mental health facilities at a young age.
The Doyles went to the Ukraine to adopt Katya, who Doyle saw on the Internet while researching adoption.
“I saw her and thought she looked like she should be my kid,” Doyle said.
When the Doyles realized the minimum fees associated with adopting a second child from the Ukraine, they opted to adopt Dasha as well.
“Why not save two lives and make the extra difference,” Doyle said.
As a result of her condition, Dasha has trouble with running and playing.
But she can swing.
Dasha was eligible for the Make-A-Wish program because of her heart defect.
The majority of wishes through the program are for travel, but Doyle said that wasn't a very viable option for Dasha.
“The only trip we could've made was back to the Ukraine, but the region they are from is closed,” she said.
Both Dasha and Katya were adopted from the Donetsk region of Ukraine, which now is under the control of the Russian military.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation also grants gift wishes, such as a swing set.
Doyle said the jungle gym made sense for Dasha.
“She loves being outside,” the mother said. “At the orphanage she rarely had a chance to go outside to play.”
Dasha spent several hours Friday night playing on the jungle gym with her six siblings.
“She loves it,” Doyle said. “It's something she can enjoy for years.”
The jungle gym has two swings and a small, diagonal “rock climbing” wall, among other features.
Friends and family joined several Make-A-Wish volunteers at Dasha's party.
Doyle said she was thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Make-A-Wish program.
“It's awesome,” she said. “The kids love it.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has fulfilled 35 wishes in Butler County in the most recent fiscal year, which ended Aug. 31.
Dana Antkowiak, a spokesman for the foundation, said the program works to grant children their one true wish.
“Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy,” she said.
She said children between 2½ and 18 years of age are eligible.
Referrals for a child to be enrolled in the program can be made by calling 800-676-9474 or visiting
