Black Women You Should Be Watching At The 2020 Tokyo Olympics huffpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from huffpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Deja Young may be training hard to defend her Paralympic titles in the 100 and 200 meter sprints, but she has a more important priority taking precedence off the track.
Young, 24, wants to share her story in hopes of helping people struggling with mental health issues, and specifically depression. Download our mobile app for iOS or Android to get the latest breaking news and local stories.
The Paralympic runner’s own bout with depression goes back to college, but she has been overcoming challenges since the day she was born. Young was injured at birth when her shoulder got stuck on her mom s pelvic bone.
“The doctor pulled on my head too hard and tore all the nerves in my neck and shoulder and went without telling my parents, so I didn t get diagnosed until 6 months later, said Young.
The official diagnosis is something called Brachial Plexus. The nerve damage through Young s arm and shoulder was first identified by her parents when she couldn t crawl.
She still has the scars from the surgeries, including one she incorporated into a tattoo. The scar is the laser beam between an alien (which she said represents her) and a space ship.
Deja Young
Paralympian Deja Young as a child.
Paralympic Track Star Deja Young Announces Engagement teamusa.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from teamusa.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.