Lori Smith Zentz and Ingrid Mezo

Samantha Keeney, a senior at Catoctin High School, is using her required Senior Project as a tool to hopefully raise at least $35,000 so her 2 year old cousin can gain enough strength to sit, crawl and hopefully stand and walk.

"She’s almost two, and her smile will catch you," said Samantha of her cousin Karson Brewster.

Karson was born with a rare chromosomal disorder called 18q Deletion Syndrome, the side effects of which can be completely debilitating. According to Samantha, in Karson’s case, she is fed by a feeding tube, suffers from severe eczema, speech failure, mental retardation, and a growth hormone deficiency.

Although there’s no cure for Karson a series of growth hormone injections could help improve her quality of life.

"It’s not guaranteed, but in every 18q case that has been treated with these shots, those children have benefited," explained Samantha. "They will help her walk, stand, sit. If she could get these shots it’s going to make a world of difference.

But, at $35,000 for a series of shots, even with medical insurance, it’s more than Michelle and Calvin Brewster can afford on one income supporting a family of five. "The biggest problem they’re facing is money issues because her medical bills during a month’s time are around $2,000," Samantha said.

That’s when Samantha decided to step in and help. "I went to Venezuela last year, and I did a bake sale for that and raised $200," she said.

Samantha decided to host a series of bake sales to raise funds for Karson and her family. The next bake sale is April 22 at Jubilee Foods in Emmitsburg, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on April 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In addition to holding bake sales throughout the month of April, Samantha also raised money through a competition between the social studies and science departments at school.

"The teachers gave the classes incentives," she said.

"I’ve raised the majority of the money so far through a school wide competition," she said.

In addition, National Honors Society students can earn volunteer hours through helping with the bake sales, and Keeney’s church and family are helping out as well.

Some of Keeney’s coworkers at Northampton Manor Nursing home in Frederick have also helped out with the project by helping her understand the medical terms she needed to write in her report.

"You know there have been obstacles all throughout it that I’ve come up against," Keeney said. "It’s kind of been a really big growing experience. With Karson, I kind of feel like big cousin coming to the rescue kind of thing."

"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that’s helped me," she said. "I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them."