Chris Young (on being sentenced to life in prison)

In a deeply moving and insightful conversation, Chris Young, author of The Wound Is Where the Light Enters, sat down with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman to share his extraordinary life story. From a childhood marked by poverty and the challenges of sickle cell anemia to a life sentence in federal prison, Young's journey is a testament to resilience, the power of education, and the transformative potential of human connection.

The Early Years: Poverty, Sickness, and a Mother's Struggle

Chris Young's early life was fraught with hardship. Born into poverty in Clarksville, Tennessee, he experienced the harsh realities of growing up without electricity or running water. His mother, a victim of addiction, struggled to provide a stable home, often leaving Young and his older brother, Robert, to fend for themselves. Young vividly recalled the constant fear and confusion of his childhood, particularly the moments when his mother's partner, Mickey, would turn violent. "To this day, I consider Mickey my daddy. The only man that ever tried," Young shared, highlighting the complex emotional landscape of his upbringing. However, Mickey's violence, coupled with his mother's escalating addiction, created an environment of instability and trauma.

Adding to these challenges, Young was born with sickle cell anemia, a severe inherited blood disorder. He described the excruciating pain of sickle cell crises, which he likened to being shot or hit by a car, multiplied across his entire body. These crises, often lasting for days, left him bedridden, running a fever, and in constant agony. The lack of understanding surrounding sickle cell anemia led to further isolation, as many people mistook his pain for drug-seeking behavior. Young explained that sickle cell anemia affects primarily people of Mediterranean or African descent and is a genetic mutation where red blood cells go from a circle shape to a sickle shape, causing blockages and immense pain. He suffers from the SC form of the disease, which has led to severe joint deterioration, requiring hip replacements and future shoulder replacements.