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.
"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."
"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." Haley Arceneaux, Medical Officer for SpaceX Inspiration4 Crew
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.
