Darhe'na was born on Bajor to Cardassian officers and orphaned at a very young age. She was taken in by an orphan resettlement center in the Capital City. She lived there until age 20 when she was accepted by Starfleet Academy. Darhe'na graduated with undistinguished marks, save for the comment that she did "surprisingly well for her species" from one of her professors. As an orphan, she has no place or status on any Cardassian world and even if she did, she wouldn't take it. No matter how Cardassian she looks, she is thoroughly Bajoran. She has recently discovered that her parents are alive and living on Cardassia and has had verbal contact with them.