But no one can tell me Anya was planned, she was an unintended consequence, I think the experiments on her mother were successful. Not to the way they would have liked, but successful enough to say "we are headed in the right direction." Anya was an accident, Anya wasn't supposed to have powers, specially powers that strong. I mean they are both in robes, but there's no reason to experiment on a child unless you think they got something from the parent, specially one so small when they would have to wait years to even know if she got powers.
I do think Donovan got his scars, when Damian was born. The timing makes sense. Demetrius had a more involved Donovan in his education. Melinda confirms that soon after her son was born she just doesn't remember which one. And Donovan still has enough influence to be targeted by WISE, so Damian's age matches more for the power and influence he still has. A recluse for 10+ years wouldn't be targeted.
I'm saying scars because we don't have a confirmation of powers, he said "understands," but you can know what someone thinks, without understanding them. Anya is a kid, she wouldn't catch the wording. I'm a strong believer, given his security detail, that he wouldn't risk such a dangerous surgery ( because those are some scars), without confirmation of results. I think Anya's mother could have been that confirmation of results. Afterwards, he would have had the surgery (?), probably while Melinda was pregnant with Damian, because he changed soon after he was born. So he came back from wherever, with an ability.