(Facebook Photo\/NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover)<\/p>\n
PHOENIX The name of a teen with Arizona ties who suffers from a rare disorder is headed to Mars.<\/p>\n
Alex Yiu, a space enthusiast who turned 15 years old this week, wanted to leave his mark on the Red Planet with some help from his teacher.<\/p>\n
She got his name onto the Perseverance Rover and he got a boarding pass, Alexs mom, Caroline Cheung-Yiu told KTAR News 92.3 FM. So, his name will be going on the rover to Mars.<\/p>\n
His name will be etched on a microchip and embedded on the rover.<\/p>\n
But thats not the only unique thing about the teen.<\/p>\n
Yiu has a rare disorder known as NEDAMSS that took more than a decade to diagnose.<\/p>\n
NEDAMSS is an acronym for neurodevelopmental disorder with regression, abnormal movements, loss of speech and seizures. This has left him bed-bound and non-verbal.<\/p>\n
It was a long road trying to look for a diagnosis through many institutions and hospitals, Cheung-Yiu explained. In the fall of 2018, we got a call from [Alexs] neurologist that we finally got a diagnosis that was given through TGen.<\/p>\n
The Translational Genomics Research Institute known as TGen is a Phoenix-based, non-profit research center that helped to find Yius diagnosis through its Center for Rare Childhood Disorders. Cheung-Yiu said they visited the Valley from the familys home in San Diego specifically to help find a diagnosis.<\/p>\n
However, space can still put a twinkle in his eyes.<\/p>\n
I, almost every day, read to him news about NASA and space, Cheung-Yiu said. Hes very interested and tends to select news more geared towards space and astronomy.<\/p>\n
And while the Arizona teen and a new high-tech rover may seem to be separated by light-years, Cheung-Yiu believes they share similar paths.<\/p>\n
Its very interesting that the journey and the whole preparation of the Perseverance Rover going to Mars is so fitting, she said.<\/p>\n
Our own journey with [Alex], the 12 years [of looking for a diagnosis], has been long but we saw through it and persevered and were able to get a diagnosis.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Yiu will celebrate his birthday with a pre-launch Zoom party. The new rover is set to launch between July 30 and August 15 and will reach Mars sometime in February.<\/p>\n
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Mars rover to carry name of teen with rare disorder and Arizona ties - KTAR.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Facebook Photo\/NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover) PHOENIX The name of a teen with Arizona ties who suffers from a rare disorder is headed to Mars. Alex Yiu, a space enthusiast who turned 15 years old this week, wanted to leave his mark on the Red Planet with some help from his teacher Continue reading