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LSU Health Shreveport Alumni Youngest American In Space

Courtesy: LSU Health-Shreveport
Credit Courtesy: LSU Health-Shreveport
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Courtesy: LSU Health-Shreveport

CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVOR IN SPACE - Louisiana native Haley Arceneaux  is a Physician’s Assistant who works at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.  Haley graduated from LSU Health Shreveport’s  P.A. program in 2016.   And  today  she is orbiting the earth as part of an historic 4 person civilian crew on SpaceX’s Inspiration4.  The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida last night .  Haley made history as the youngest person in space,  she is 29 years old and also a childhood cancer survivor. In a pre-launch press conference at SpaceX,  Haley reflected on her experience and hopes she serves as an inspiration to others. 

Haley Arceneaux is the Medical Officer on SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission.
Credit Courtesy: SpaceX
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Courtesy: SpaceX
Haley Arceneaux is the Medical Officer on SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission.

"Everyone in life has been dealt a certain hand, everyone has had to overcome somthing," Hayley said. "And I hope that those who are in the process of overcoming something can look to me and see the importance of holding on to hope because I firmly believe that there are better days and you don't know what's around the corner."

 

Falcon9 rocket blasts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, September 15, 2021.
Credit Courtesy: SpaceX
/
Courtesy: SpaceX
Falcon9 rocket blasts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, September 15, 2021.

At 10 years old Arceneaux was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer that doctors discovered in her left leg. She underwent major surgery and chemotherapy.   A central goal of the Inspiration4 mission, , is to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude.   Haley was invited to be a part of the SpaceX crew on January 5th. The Inspiration4 Mission is a three-day flight in which the Crew Dragon capsule will circle Earth dozens of times before re-entering the atmosphere for a parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Florida planned for Sunday, September 19th.Louisiana native Haley Arceneaux is a childhood cancer survivor, she works as a physicians assistant at St Jude's Research Hospital and is part of the crew on SpaceX Inspiration4 mission.

Copyright 2021 Red River Radio

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' experience to Red River Radio having started out as a radio news reporter and moving into television journalism as a newsmagazine producer / host, talk-show moderator, programming director and managing producer and news director / anchor for commercial, public broadcasting and educational television. He has more recently worked in advertising, marketing and public relations as a writer, video producer and media consultant. In pursuit of higher learning, Chuck studied Mass Communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.