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
Skiing Sensation Matilde Lorenzi’s Shocking Loses Her Life at 19
Italian skier Matilde Lorenzi tragically lost her life in a skiing accident. She was training on the Grawand G1 slope in Val Senes when she fell.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) expressed their sadness on Instagram over the tragic passing of Italian skier Matilde Lorenzi, who was only 19.
They posted a touching black-and-white photo of Lorenzi, sharing that the news was first confirmed by the Italian Ministry of Defense.
In their statement, FIS said they stand with FISI President Flavio Roda and the entire Italian winter sports community, including coaches, athletes, teammates, and staff, as they mourn Lorenzi’s loss.
At the end, the federation shared their deep sadness, mourning alongside Lorenzi’s family and friends. Joining them, the Ministry of Defense and its Minister Guido Crosetto posted a message in Italian, honoring the young Army athlete and offering support to Lorenzi’s family.
The Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) also posted a statement on their website, including details of her funeral. They announced that it would be held on Thursday, October 31, at 10 AM in Giaveno at San Lorenzo parish.
Lorenzi’s family asked for donations instead of flowers to support the “Project in Memory of Matildina.
The Italian Army’s sports branch, Centro Sportivo Esercito, honored Lorenzi on Instagram. Their heartfelt caption, translated from Italian, read, “Too soon!! This is the only thought in our hearts during this time of sorrow.
They continued, “We stand with your family and Lucrezia, comforted that you were doing what you loved. Take a few more turns for us and watch over those who loved you.”
Lorenzi’s boyfriend, Federico Tomasoni, has also been sharing memories of her on Instagram. In one post, he wrote, “You are the most beautiful thing that life could ever give me.
I love you, little star ,” along with a close-up of their hands as he held hers.
Another memory showed Lorenzi by the beach, replying “Ciao” to Tomasoni’s greeting.
Before her passing, Lorenzi’s last Instagram post featured photos of a sunset in Ibiza. Among these images was one of her with Tomasoni, her arms around him, with a caption that read, “chasing sunsets in ibiza [sic].”
We offer our deepest condolences to Lorenzi’s family, boyfriend, friends, colleagues, and loved ones as they cope with this immense loss.
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