Sensory swing donated to memorialize special needs girl in Klehm Arboretum

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Audrey Cismesia passed away from epilepsy-related issues, and one year later, her family donated something special in her memory.

Audrey was just five years old when she passed, and to celebrate her birthday this year, her parents, loved ones and friends organized the construction of two sensory swings at Nancy Olson Children’s Garden in the Klehm Arboretum.

Audrey and her family are members of Superhero Center for Autism, a non-profit organization that offers support, education and resources for individuals with autism and other special needs and their families. After the organization’s help throughout Audrey’s life, her parents wanted to give back, so they came up with the idea for the swings.

“We wanted to do something special to celebrate her birthday,” Audrey’s mother Amanda Cismesia said. “With the support of family and friends, we were able to donate some money and Audrey’s memory to Klehm. Klehm is a special place for us because Jeff and I were married here.”

Audrey’s father Jeff Cismesia said the swings are something Audrey and her 8-year-old sister Hannah would’ve enjoyed together.

“Audrey would have loved to swing on these swings and just kind of lay down,” Jeff said. “We just wanted a way to, in Audrey’s memory, show what she was about.”

The area is surrounded by rocks and a plaque with a silhouette of Audrey dancing, which her parents said looks just like her. Her mother Amanda also said that the swings will be useful to other kids in the area with similar disabilities.

“It just seemed like a really good partnership to be able to contribute to that and do something that she would have loved,” Amanda said. “It’s for her friends and the other families that we’re so connected with to use and share too.”

Communications and marketing manager at the Superhero Center Jim Taylor said the Stateline doesn’t have a lot of sensory-accessible places or items like these, so the donation is much appreciated and beneficial.

“When we have items like this, like our sensory swing and other sensory play items, that gives these kids with sensory needs an opportunity to play with kids and interact with other kids,” Taylor said. “This is a really important one because the Klehm Arboretum is a gathering place for children and families throughout the region, not just in Rockford, but through the surrounding area. This kind of visibility is just such an exciting thing for us as well.”

Audrey’s family wants the world to remember her for her dancing ability, her love for princesses and her smile.

“Audrey was just full of joy,” Amanda said. “She really loved her friends. She really loved this community. I think we just want to remember her joy and who she was and continue to have that be a part of our lives and this place.”

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