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Four-year-old Karson Brewster of Thurmont suffers from a rare chromosomal disorder that prevents her from talking, walking or crawling.

As a result of her condition, life for the Brewster family revolves around Karson.

"Karson's needs affect the whole family," Karson's mom, Michelle said. "Her brother and sister have had to give up many things."

Karson was born with 18q minus syndrome, a rare condition in which a block of genes is missing from the "q" region of chromosome 18. One of these genes is vital to the process of brain maturation and critical thinking.

Michelle Brewster told her story to some 300 people who filled The Arc of Frederick County headquarters Nov. 4, to discuss their anger toward $30 million worth of budget cuts in August to services that help people who have disabilities.

Some came in wheelchairs and carried signs, but all pleaded with state legislators not to cut the funding that pays for the services they and their families need.

"I worry one day we'll have to decide what to pay — the electric bill or medicine for our daughter," Brewster said. "I feel the government needs to spend some time with our families to see what we go through."

Karson is on a waiting list to receive services and help from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration.

In the meantime, Brewster said she has had to quit her job to take care of Karson, and the family struggles on just her husband's salary. Last year, they had out-of-pocket medical bills exceeding $13,000, she said.

"We take it one day at a time," she said.

With the Maryland Board of Public Works considering another round of cuts this month, the Brewsters and other families like them came to say no more.

"I've lost hope and I've lost faith in the system," said Margie Allen, president of The Arc of Frederick County, an agency that helps people who have developmental disabilities. "This is neither a Democratic problem nor a Republican problem. It's a human problem. What are we really fighting for? It's not money, it's our lives."

In August, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) announced, and the Board of Public Works approved, $454 million in budget cuts to help the state's lingering financial woes. Of that, there were $30 million in cuts from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration's budget of $768.3 million.

This includes cuts to family support services, adult respite care, group homes and financial assistance. The cuts could mean less money for in-home care, special diets, diapers for teens and a host of other expenses families face when caring for an adult or child with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or other developmental disabilities.

Listening to their stories were three members of the Frederick delegation to the Maryland General Assembly: Del. Paul S. Stull (R-Dist. 4A) of Walkersville, Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr. (Unaffiliated-Dist. 3B) of Brunswick, and Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Dist. 4A) of Middletown.

"I'm absolutely blown away by what I've seen tonight," Bartlett said. "And this is the type of energy we need when we go back to Annapolis and lobby for you. And we will walk the walk and take that walk with you when we head back in January."

But some residents became angry when Weldon suggested that they lobby O'Malley, since the Maryland Constitution only allows the governor, not the General Assembly, to add funding to the state budget. The General Assembly only has the authority to cut money from the budget. They shouted out, "Why did we elect you?" "Stop bailing out the banks," and "Cut your pay."

Weldon remained calm as he explained the role of the state legislature. "The Maryland governor is the most powerful governor in the 50 states," Weldon said. "According to the Maryland Constitution, we can't add a penny to the budget."

E-mail Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@gazette.net.