2025 Recipients
Ashlyn Doltar
Ashlyn Doltar graduated Eatonville High School in 2012 following in her mother, grandparents and great grandparent's footsteps as well as her extended family of VanEatons and Boettchers. She continued her education at Pierce Community College and then the University of Washington Tacoma where she received her bachelor's degree. She's worked for Pierce County for several years as part of the accounting team. Ashlyn loves traveling, hiking all around the state, reading, crocheting and spending time with family and friends. Ashlyn has a large heart and has made hats for babies in the hospital and care bags for the homeless. She also enjoyed helping animal rescues and had recently adopted a kitten from a terrible situation.
At the end of November 2025, Ashlyn went to ER with a strange feeling headache. The situation quickly deteriorated and Ashlyn lost consciousness. This lead the ER doctor at Tacoma General to immediately transport her to Harborview in Seattle. This is where we learned she had an aneurysm that had burst. After several weeks of testing and the incredible work of the team of doctors there, we learned the news we never wanted to hear: the burst aneurysm had caused damage not only to her brain, but also her brain stem. The cascade of damage also caused a stroke at the same time.
Ashlyn may regain some levels of consciousness as time progresses, but will most likely never regain the independence she once had. She is fierce and a fighter (just ask her parents!) She and we will continue to fight to regain as much of her spunk and spirit as possible.
Kiara Criss
Kiara and her husband, Ryan Criss, are both 33 years old and are the parents of three remarkable children: Avory (12), Rory (11), and Atlas (7). Their journey has been marked by immense medical, emotional, and financial strain, yet they have continued to move forward with courage and hope.
Ryan is a United States Marine Corps veteran, having served honorably for eight years from 2013 to 2022, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Following his military service, Ryan pursued higher education, earning his Associate’s degree from Green River College in 2023, and later completing his Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication, Illustration, and Graphic Design in 2025, graduating on the honor roll. He has balanced school, part-time work, caregiving responsibilities, and parenting with remarkable dedication.
Kiara has lived with epilepsy since early childhood. While her seizures subsided between the ages of 17 and 26, they returned in 2018 with increasing severity. At age 23, Kiara was also diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, a rare, genetic mutation that significantly increases the risk of several forms of cancer. As a preventative measure, she underwent multiple major surgeries, including the removal of her colon, which was already showing early signs of cancer.
After a period of recovery and renewed independence, including the birth of their third child, Kiara’s seizures returned once again, becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Over the following years, the family navigated countless medical appointments, tests, and medication adjustments. During this time, Kiara was no longer able to work reliably or transport herself, placing additional strain on the family. Tragically, on December 26, 2024, Kiara experienced a severe 37-minute seizure that nearly claimed her life and resulted in brain damage. Following this event, her seizures became more frequent and unpredictable. In response, Kiara underwent two brain surgeries: the first to implant an internal EEG for precise mapping of seizure activity, and the second, an ablation procedure in November—to burn damaged brain tissue in hopes of reducing or eliminating seizures.