The Ottawa REDBLACKS and the Canadian football community are supporting former REDBLACKS defensive coordinator Barron Miles and his family as his daughter Ava continues her courageous battle with two rare medical conditions.
The Hall of Fame defensive back played 12 seasons in the CFL, winning two Grey Cups, earning six league all-star selections and 10 divisional all-star nods among many other individual accolades. Following his playing career Miles transitioned to coaching and spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons running Ottawa’s defence, before joining the Calgary Stampeders coaching staff ahead of the 2025 season.
All the challenges, accolades and accomplishments don’t compare to Barron and his wife Jennifer having to see their daughter Ava’s struggle. Something no parent ever wants to see.
For the past six years, Ava has battled gastroparesis and Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS), conditions that have led to repeated hospitalizations, multiple surgeries and extensive medical care. Ava was first diagnosed when she was 16 years old and much of her past six years have been spent in hospital rooms. What should have been the happiest, most carefree years of her life have been filled with medical procedures, tube feeding and constant pain.
After being told the doctors in Arizona had done all they could do locally, the Miles family is now pursuing specialized treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, but the costs associated with that care are substantial after insurance denied coverage for much of the treatment due to it taking place in a different state than her home in Arizona.
Costs are expected to exceed $400,000 USD to cover treatments, surgery and post-op care.
Longtime CFL coach Wally Buono and his wife, Sande, launched a Canadian fundraising campaign, in addition to the US campaign to help the Miles family cover the cost of Ava’s care. Support has since poured in from across the league, with current and former players, coaches, organizations and fans coming together in support of the Miles family.
In response, the CFL community has rallied around one of its own.
Anyone who wishes to support the cause can do so by visiting this link CLICK HERE
