BY KAREN WOLF

FOR CITY TIMES

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Premier Realty Group is pleased to share the success of the 2nd annual Wisconsin Rapids Area Best Christmas Ever program. With the help of the community and volunteers, the Groholski family; Ashley, Cody, and Remy are the 2022 Wisconsin Rapids Area Best Christmas Ever recipients.

In early May 2022, Ashley’s lower teeth started to ache so bad she couldn’t sleep most nights. Next thing she knew one of her teeth was slightly pushed up and there was a growth behind the front teeth. She immediately made an appointment with her dentist, and it was diagnosed as an infected abscess. After multiple root canals, she would wake up and the lesion was worse than the day before. Finally, Ashley was referred to see an oral surgeon after developing a lesion the size of an orange off her jaw. The painful tumor was finally removed Sept. 19, 2022. Two weeks later, her oral surgeon frantically called to inform her that the tumor was osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, especially in the jaw, and growing rapidly.

She quickly had preliminary appointments at the Carbone Cancer Center at UW Health in Madison and entered very intense inpatient chemotherapy. Ashley has been making regular trips to Madison with some stays of 10 days or more. The chemo treatments will last a year or more. Additionally, Ashley travelled to Madison on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to have her mandibulectomy and fibula free flap surgery. The procedure is an eight-hour surgery with an intense recovery, including a week in the hospital with a feeding tube and possible tracheotomy.

The Wisconsin Rapids Area Best Christmas Ever was able to surprise Ashely, Cody, and Remy on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. Donated gifts and gift cards totaling $4,000 were wrapped for the family to put under their Christmas tree. Additionally, the monetary donations raised totaled $9,593! These funds were used to help with their greatest needs; paying their property taxes, new furniture, vehicle repairs, and mortgage payments. The Wisconsin Rapids area community stepped up in a big way to bless this family with the Best Christmas Ever! Thank you to all who contributed.

If you are interested in supporting this family as Ashley continues through surgery and treatment, please visit her GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/9af09082. You can also keep up with Ashley on her journey on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/572509264688133/.

If you would like to learn more about the Wisconsin Rapids Area Best Christmas Ever program, visit us at: https://www.facebook.com/rapidsbce.

Karen Wolf is the Director of Operations for Premier Realty Group in Wisconsin Rapids.