Dana in “Desperate Housewives” is actually the original name of Mary Alice Young’s son, who was later renamed Zach. Mary Alice changed his name to hide their past after she and her husband, Paul, adopted him following a tragic incident.
In the series, it is revealed that Dana/Zach’s biological mother, Deirdre Taylor, was a drug addict who sold him to Mary Alice and Paul Young for a fix. Years later, Deirdre came back to claim her son, leading to a confrontation that ended with Mary Alice accidentally killing her. To cover up the incident and protect their family, the Youngs buried Deirdre’s body under their pool and changed their son’s name from Dana to Zach to start a new life.
As the series progresses, Zach struggles with his identity and the secrets surrounding his past. He eventually learns about his true parentage and the circumstances of his adoption. This revelation and his complicated relationship with his father lead to a series of dramatic events, including Zach’s emotional breakdown and eventual departure from the show. His character arc is a poignant part of the series, exploring themes of identity, family secrets, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones.
