Please Support Ava's Continuing Battle for Health!

For nearly the last decade, my sister, Jennifer’s family has been bravely battling an onslaught of medical problems. Jennifer has stage 4 endometriosis and interstitial cystitis, which have led to countless exploratory surgeries, seizures, and extreme pain. One of the many times she has been hospitalized was last year for close to two weeks with life threatening internal bleeding from ischemic colitis. She should be receiving specialized treatments and medications 3 times per week to manage all of this, but their insurance has refused to continue covering it. Their son, Zion, required double reconstructive hip surgery and extensive rehabilitation and physical therapy. In addition, their oldest daughter, Raven, was diagnosed with lupus nephritis last year, which has resulted in time off from work, testing, medications, and ongoing treatments and pain management.

After learning all of that, you may be shocked to find that my decision to create this GoFundMe is actually being spurred by an even greater IMMEDIATE need: their youngest daughter, my niece, Ava, is 21 years old and has been fighting an excruciating battle after being diagnosed with gastroparesis in 2021. Her case is very severe, and she has been through so much more than I can even begin to share in a couple paragraphs. I spent two weeks in June with them to lend my help and support. Ava ended up being hospitalized all but two of the days I was there, and I simply cannot wrap my mind around the level of strength and bravery Ava possesses, as well as the level of love and support from my sister, brother-in-law, and Ava’s siblings. Some of what Ava has endured/is enduring include: placement of a gastric pacemaker; g-poem surgeries; TPN feedings through a pic line for 11 months; multiple surgeries and procedures on her pyloric sphincter. As her condition deteriorated, it was necessary to have a J tube placed (which goes directly into the small intestine) through which she is now receiving slow feeds 20 hours per day, along with IV medications and hydration through the additional port. These come with a high risk of infections, and as I write this, Ava remains hospitalized, now battling sepsis from a blood infection. Since April, Ava has been hospitalized 6 times with life threatening issues stemming from complications from gastroparesis.

Ava’s team of doctors have determined that there is nothing more they can do for her and she requires a specialized level of care at The Cleveland Clinic. She is nowhere near medically stable enough to travel by car or commercial airline. The only travel option to Cleveland that can provide the level of care she requires is an air ambulance. The cost is $39,920 one way, for a total cost of close to $80,000. They will incur many additional costs, including lodging for my sister and brother-in-law for however long Ava needs to be in Cleveland, flights back and forth for them, additional medical expenses my sister may incur for her own health while in Cleveland, car rental, etc. They are scheduled to leave on August 15th, and their insurance company has not approved coverage, nor will they give them any information as far as a date for reconsideration. The flight cannot take place without being prepaid.

For anyone who has ever been in a similar situation, I’m sure you grasp how hard it is to reach out for this kind of help, and this request comes after searching every other possible option. We love our sweet, kind, brave Ava, and humbly ask for any support you feel called to give Ava and her family. It will be endlessly, deeply appreciated.