Special needs families enjoy free day at Siegel's pumpkin farm in Lockport

LOCKPORT – Shane Marquardt, 14, of Manhattan got out of his wheelchair and climbed onto a pillow inflatable where his mother, Michelle Marquardt, waited.

Shane, born with cerebral palsy and blind, smiled and laughed as he and his mother had the entire inflatable pillow to themselves to bounce and play.

On Sunday, 750 special-needs kids, parents and siblings were able to enjoy a free day at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm’s pumpkin farm in Lockport, with the help of the Siegel family and Small Steps Therapy owner Valerie Miller.

Miller said she heard of carnivals that allowed a day for special-needs families and asked the Siegel family if they would be willing to allow those families in the area to come in and enjoy a low-key day at the farm.

Siegel’s co-owner Paul Siegel said the event was perfect for opening weekend.

“Our opening weekend tends to be a slower weekend, so the families can come in when there is a low crowd and the kids won’t be overwhelmed,” Siegel said.

Siegel said he just had an experience where his grandson was born at 24 weeks and spent three months in the hospital, so the Siegels understand how life can change when a family welcomes a child with special needs.

Miller agreed.

“These families have to pay medical bills and therapy bills and most of them don’t have a lot of extra money. So, this was something nice where the community can give back to them,” she said.

Michelle said she brought her son, daughter and husband to enjoy a day when other families like theirs can be together.

“It’s nice to have the awareness of the special-needs day so the workers are more aware and sensitive to our situation, and realize why I have to bring his wheelchair into certain areas,” Michelle said.

Brent Marquardt agreed with his wife that it’s hard to come to a place such as Siegel’s on a typical day.

“People don’t understand the different way of life when you have a child with special needs,” he said.

Miller said she has witnessed days like Sunday turn into support groups because so many special-needs families are in one spot, which creates a place for kids to make friendships with children who share their struggles.

The Gorecki family of Mokena has two biological children and has adopted nine special-needs children, one from Korea and eight from China. Parents Kerri and Joel Gorecki brought 10 of their children to ride the trains, navigate the corn mazes, play in the corn and be outdoors for family fun.

“Our life is busy, full of doctor appointments and therapies, so this day is wonderful. An outing like this for family would cost a lot of money due to our size,” Kerri said. “And, the kids are around other kids that are like them.”