ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Haley Arceneaux She beat childhood cancer at age 10, gained admission into the highly competitive PA Program at LSU Health Shreveport and now she’s the youngest American (and likely the first Cajun) in space. At 29 years old, Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, had hoped this would be the year that she would complete her aim of visiting all seven continents, but those plans changed when she got the call to go to OUTER SPACE. This call was far more than a chance to go to space as the mission would also raise funds for her beloved St. Jude. “It’s an incredible honor to join the Inspiration4 crew,” Hayley said. “This seat represents the hope that St. Jude gave me and continues to give families from around the world, who, like me, find hope when they walk through the doors of St. Jude.” While on Inspiration4, Hayley rode in the seat representing the mission pillar of Hope. It’s one of two seats, of the four total, dedicated to St. Jude. “I can’t say enough about the commander of the mission, Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, who’s an accomplished pilot in his own right, as well as a generous, down-to-earth leader,” Hayley said. Hayley was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, bone cancer, shortly after a after a family vacation to NASA, where she fell in love with space and the wonders of exploration. She remembers pretending to be angry when she arrived at St. Jude for treatment at age 10, but she later acknowledged that she was just so scared. “At the time, cancer seemed like a death sentence because everyone I had known who had it passed away.” As soon Hayley entered the doors of St. Jude, however, she noted that everything changed. She felt hope and a deep sense of optimism that she could get through treatment. That treatment included implanting metal rods in the bones of her left leg. “That’s why I’m so grateful to be a part of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space with a mission to support St. Jude, the amazing place that saved my life, and where I’ve returned to work in my dream job as a physician assistant,” Hayley said. Students and faculty at the School of Allied Health Professions held a watch party for the SpaceX launch on September 15. McKenzie LeBlanc, a Physical Therapy student who was a
childhood friend of Hayley’s, shared, “It didn’t surprise me at all when I heard Hayley was going to space. She has always been so amazing. I remember when I was in kindergarten, I brought Haley to show-and-tell because I was just so proud of my friend for being so strong during her cancer battle. She makes me want to become a better health care provider and a physical therapist.” McKenzie also recalled that as children she and Hayley collected Coke tabs to raise money for St. Jude. “It’s so crazy to think that now, at 29 years old, she’s raising $200,000 million for St. Jude research,” McKenzie said. Lindsey Ferrington, a Physician Assistant Program Clinical Coordinator and Clinical Assistant Professor who taught Arceneaux at LSUHS, shared, “I feel like it is limitless what Hayley can do, and that inspires me to do more to get out of my own comfort zone.” Hayley was also recognized by Physician Assistant Program Clinical Assistant Professor Rebecca Clawson as a motivated student who had an energy and a zest about her that lifted up everyone around her. She also noted that Hayley was bringing hope to Louisiana after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ida. It seems that everywhere Hayley goes, hope follows.
Feist-Weiller Cancer Center is proud to be home to one of only eight St. Jude Affiliate Clinics. 18
INSIDE LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT
