Wesley’s Story

Site created on April 14, 2024

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

We are starting this Caring Bridge site for Chelsey and Andy Grochowski's son Wesley (age 16 months). He was injured on Thursday 4/11 and suffered burns on over 25% of his body, including his chest, arm, thigh and chin. He was taken to Winona Health and then by ambulance to the burn center at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN. Friday 4/12 he is underwent a four-hour stem cell surgery to clean and treat his wounds. We are hopeful that the operation will promote healing and he will not have to undergo skin graft surgery in the coming weeks, but it will be 5 days before they can remove bandages and confirm if he is healing properly. He has a long road to recovery and will be at the treatment center for several weeks.

Unfortunately Wesley is burdened with this current struggle after having spent 5 days in the hospital the week before Easter, when he was treated for an ear infection paired with a viral illness and dehydration. It’s so defeating to see him going through this injury now, after he has already suffered so much and was working to bounce back fully.

Aside from health issues, Chelsey and Andy have each missed a week of work over the last month to help tend to Wesley’s previous illnesses. Now with Wesley hospitalized 2.5 hours away from their home they will not be able to work a regular schedule, if at all. The financial burden they are now under is an added area of concern when they already have far too much turmoil on their plate.

Not forgotten in all this are Chelsey’s two other children, Harper (11) and Gavin (18). Harper is a 5th grader at Galesville Elementary. Gavin is a senior at G-E-T.

Although the family's monetary needs are great, what we are really asking for is a prayer chain to get them through this. The family as a whole are going to need so much special help and prayer from as many people as possible. 


We will continue to update this site to keep everyone informed.

Thank you for all of your love and support.


Newest Update

Journal entry by Rachel Bjerke

The power of prayer really is amazing! Wesley's medical team determined that his chest/abdomen area is healing well and that he does not need further surgery.  His arm and leg are also progressively healing well.  He currently needs to wear a protective glove on his right hand as that continues to heal; he does take extra care with that arm and hand and isn't using it fully at this point. His left thigh where they took the skin graft for his re-cell surgery remains bandaged to promote healing.     
He seems to have low level pain at times that Chelsey and Andy are monitoring and treating him for. Wesley continues to increase his activity now that he is home.  He has been eating and sleeping good and you can see that his personality has continued to shine through as he is able to be with his Sister, Brother, Mom and Dad in the comfort of his own home.
Please keep on praying for Wesley as he continues to heal and gain his strength. 
Your rush of love and support for this family helped to power them through this, and will remain to do so as they navigate through the next steps in life that come after an accident like this.
Thank you all!    
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Wesley Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Wesley's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Comments Hide comments

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top