$80,000 Air Ambulance Dilemma Delays Arizona Woman’s Vital Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Ava Miles, a 21-year-old from Chandler, is fighting for her life as she battles a severe case of gastroparesis alongside a recent sepsis diagnosis from a blood infection. The young woman has been in and out of hospitals for five years, enduring feeding tubes and multiple surgeries.

Ava’s mother, Jennifer Miles, paints a picture of her daughter as a strong and humorous individual whose medical struggles have deprived her of significant life experiences. “She didn’t get to go to prom or graduation,” Jennifer noted. The illness began with debilitating stomach pain at age 12, intensifying by 16.

Gastroparesis, a condition impacting stomach muscle function, effectively paralyzes the stomach, leading to severe discomfort. “It’s like the worst food poisoning times ten, lasting for months,” Jennifer explained. Unfortunately, after numerous treatments and several life-threatening complications in the past six months, Ava’s current medical providers have indicated the need for specialized care.

Ava’s doctors aim to send her to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where experts are renowned for their endoscopic therapy for gastroparesis. However, reaching the clinic will require an air ambulance because Ava is not medically stable enough for commercial travel. The cost for this critical transportation is exorbitant—$39,920 for a one-way trip, totaling nearly $80,000 when including additional expenses.

Insurance has denied coverage for both the out-of-state treatment and the air ambulance, leaving Jennifer in a difficult financial situation. “It’s one medical crisis away from financial ruin,” she remarked, having given up her job to care for Ava.

In a display of community support, local residents have already raised over $36,000 to aid in Ava’s transport. “We are so touched by the support,” Jennifer said, emphasizing her desire for Ava to regain her quality of life. Further contributions can be made through a GoFundMe initiative titled “Please Help Aid Ava’s Fight: Urgent Medical Transport.”