The world’s most famous blue man, Paul Karason, also dubbed Papa Smurf, was born as a fair-skinned, freckled boy with ginger hair. In the 2000s, he became an internet sensation and made many TV appearances, openly talking about his condition. Let’s find out together why Karason turned blue and how he became a cautionary tale.
Paul Karason had a skin condition that made his skin flake, as well as acid reflux and arthritis. Doing his own research in order to improve these ailments, he found out about a solution of silver in water, also known as colloidal silver.
Colloidal silver was widely used as an antibiotic back before penicillin was invented in the 1930s. It was banned in 1999 in over-the-counter medications after scientists found that it can severely damage internal organs.
The late Paul Karason and his wife, Joanne
Karason drank what he believed was a miracle cure for over 10 years. Moreover, he even began to apply a silver preparation directly to his skin; he claimed his acid reflux and arthritis just went away. “I had arthritis in my shoulders so bad I couldn’t pull a T-shirt off. And the next thing I knew, it was just gone,” he shared.
Due to the silver accumulation in his skin, he started to turn blue and suffered from a permanent and rare condition called argyria. Only when Karason met an old friend who asked him, “What have you done to yourself?” did he begin to realize he’d become blue.
Karason claimed his blue skin had many advantages — he never got sunburns or had to wear sunglasses. There were some side effects he did not appreciate, however, such as folks “being less than polite” to him. Moreover, Karason confessed he couldn’t get a job because of employers’ resistance to hiring “people that are blue or that are noticeably different.”
Sadly, Paul Karason passed away in 2013 when he was 62 years old due to heart complications.
Papa Smurf’s story serves as a valuable lesson about the importance of being careful when it comes to at-home remedies. While it’s natural to want to find easy solutions to health problems, it’s important to be aware that such remedies can sometimes pose serious risks. It’s always better to consult a doctor and follow their advice for a safe and effective treatment.
Preview photo credit Inside Edition / YouTube
Baby rescued from a fire finds a loving home seven years later, after suffering severe burns from the apartment blaze
When a fire swept through the apartment where Deyvion slept as a baby in his bassinet, he was miraculously rescued by firefighters. Although he survived, the blaze left him with severe burns on his face.
This resilient little boy from Missouri embarked on a difficult recovery journey at a specialized burns unit, fighting to regain his health against the odds. Remarkably, he faced this challenge without the support of a family by his side.
At the age of five, everything changed for Deyvion when he became the foster child of Beth Plunkett, a single mother of two. “He was such a beautiful little boy, and I fell in love with him immediately”, Beth recalled, as reported by WGN9 News. “I often hear people say: ‘Oh, he’s so lucky to have you’, but honestly, I feel just as lucky to have him”, she added.
After spending 2,545 days without a family, Deyvion was finally adopted by Beth. “My biggest wish for him is to be happy and to always feel loved. I want him to set goals and achieve great things, and I have no doubt he will. God has an amazing plan for him”, she said.
In addition to his new mom and siblings, Deyvion has also captured the hearts of the firefighters who saved him. Deputy Chief Eric Smith of the South Metro Fire Department in Raymore and his team still remember the night they rescued this remarkable boy.
On the day of Deyvion’s adoption, Smith and his crew presented him with a special jacket and hat made just for him. They also treated Deyvion and Beth to a ride in their fire truck to the courthouse, where his adoption was finalized.
As they celebrated, Smith gave Deyvion a high five and expressed his pride in the young boy, stating: “He’s incredibly special. While we may not always understand why things happen, we certainly do now”.
Deyvion is surrounded by love, having shown immense courage throughout his journey. This brave and endearing boy truly deserves every bit of happiness. His story is one we all need to hear, a testament to love and compassion. Let’s spread the word about this inspiring little boy and shower him with even more love!
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