By Mary Grieco
Catholic Herald correspondent

Russian tot gets therapy in Rhinelander

RHINELANDER -- Before 2-year-old Daria "Dasha" Chikshina and her mother, Svetlana, left on a trip of a lifetime from their home in Siberia this summer, a large group gathered to pray for their safety and gave them medals of the Virgin Mary to protect them on their journey.

Dasha's family had given up hope of finding help for the child. Now, however, after traveling half way around the world to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, there is cautious optimism for her future.

For nearly two weeks she was evaluated by a team of doctors and therapists, and they are not giving up on Dasha. This chance of a lifetime came when an unusual set of circumstances brought Dasha's medical condition, a neuromuscular disorder, to the attention of Dr. Dorothy Skye, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Ministry Medical Group, Rhinelander, and Northern Region Medical Director.

For 12 years, Skye has been coordinating exchanges with medical personnel in the area of Ulan Ude, a city of 400,000 located in the Russian republic of Buryatia. When she traveled there in April, it happened that one of the translators and co-facilitators of the exchanges, Diane Olmen, visited a manicure salon run by Svetlana. The conversation turned to Dasha and the frustrations the family was experiencing with the Russian medical system. In fact, Dasha's condition seemed to be worsening, and Svetlana had decided to stop all treatment.

Olmen asked Skye to intervene. Before returning to the United States, Skye evaluated the child and took a video to show to specialists when she arrived home.

"I presented it to therapists and to Dr. Peter Ahmann (a pediatric neurologist with Marshfield Clinic), and asked their opinion," Skye explained. "Their assessment was, 'yes;' there were things that could be done."

With support from individuals and Ministry Health Care, arrangements were soon made to bring Daria and her mother to Wisconsin for a series of evaluations which Skye arranged with an extensive medical team.

What went through this child's mind is impossible to imagine -- finding herself in strange surroundings, hearing an unfamiliar language, and being tested and examined for hours on end. But her mother was always nearby, and through it all the little patient cooperated to the best of her ability, quickly winning the hearts of those who worked with her.

On one particular day, she was evaluated at Ministry Rehabilitation by speech therapist Heather Sturtevant, occupational therapists Patience Lamers and Kay Roberts, and pediatric physical therapist Sarah Marx. Dasha has not developed language skills, often has difficulty swallowing, cannot crawl and easily loses her balance when put in a sitting position.

Yet, like other children her age, she is fascinated with colorful toys, and the therapists were better able to see what Dasha could do by playing with her. Marx carefully observed her muscle strengths and weaknesses, noting how easily she tires. But all the therapists saw the potential for significant improvement over time.

"Sitting is certainly something attainable," Marx said. She also expressed optimism that one day Dasha will be able to walk, perhaps with an assistive device. Numerous handouts on strengthening exercises and activities were translated so that Dasha's family will be able to work with her.

"The most important thing (for her development) is having a supportive family," Marx said. "That is to Dasha's advantage." In addition to her father, mother and older sister, a nanny helps out while Svetlana is at work.

Following their intense round of appointments in the Northwoods, Svetlana and Dasha traveled to DePere, where there was a reunion of families who have adopted children from Russian orphanages through Lutheran Social Services.

Therapists with the Lutheran Social Services birth-to-three program also worked with Dasha and her mother, giving Svetlana hands-on practice in working to improve Dasha's abilities.

"The continuity was fabulous," Skye commented. "They continued what our therapists had demonstrated and gave the mother confidence to do these activities on her own."

Throughout the visit, Skye encouraged Svetlana to take on a broader mission, "not only to help Dasha, but also to serve as a resource for others in Ulan Ude ... to generate parent self-help, to activate the medical community and to elevate their skill level."

"There are many (in the Russian health care system) who are receptive to change," Skye added. "It isn't that they don't care; they just don't have the opportunity to get the training they need."

Speaking through translator Julia Lund, a Ukraine native who now lives in Minocqua, Svetlana accepted the challenge. While she admits to being overwhelmed by all that has happened in the last few weeks, she is deeply grateful for all that the Northwoods medical community has done and is determined to make a difference when she gets home.

"I am just an ordinary woman, but I will find a way," she said as she smiled at Dasha. "I feel a great responsibility to educate other parents. The most important thing is to strive for something better, and not to settle for anything less."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004