Posted on 09/25/2013 11:50:57 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Paul Karason, who became famous after his skin turned permanently blue, died at a Washington hospital Monday. He was 62.
Karason was admitted in the hospital last week after suffering a heart attack. He also had pneumonia and later suffered a severe stroke, his estranged wife, Jo Anna Karason, said Tuesday.
Karason was born a fair-skinned, freckled boy but his skin began turning blue 15 years ago after he contracted a rare medical syndrome known as argyria or silver poisoning from dietary supplements.
He was reportedly using a special silver-based preparation to treat a bad case of dermatitis. He had also been drinking colloidal silver.
Jo Anna Karason said some people started calling him “Papa Smurf” after his skin changed color. His white mane and long beard added to the resemblance.
“That was a nickname he didn’t appreciate, depending on who said it,” she said. “If it was a kid who ran up to him saying ‘Papa Smurf,’ it would put a smile on his face. But if it was an adult, well ….”
In 2008 a blue Karason emerged from reclusion and explained his condition on the TODAY show.
“He has been too ill to work for a while,” his wife said. “He didn’t like to go out in public much -- only when he thought he needed to, like to go to the bank or to pick up tobacco.”
Karason's ultimate cause of death as not yet been revealed.
Smurf’s up!
George Costanza had the same issue.
Sad Day Ping.
My late father was convinced that colloidal silver was a miracle substance. Don't know if he actually consumed it.
Timing of the story is not good. I was given some potentially unpleasant news from my cardiologist yesterday...I'll be 62 in February. Even though everyone thinks I look 40 [snigger]
I hope they play “I am blue” by Eiffel 65 at the funeral.
Damn that high rent.... 
And if you eat too many carrots...you turn orange. Blue is creepier.
:: He had also been drinking colloidal silver ::
I think I maught see where this fella has a problem.
Talk about your “expensive s**t”! Dude was probably losing $10/flush.
Melanin too damn low!
Rent too damn high!
Once you go blue, you ever be through.
Looks like bluegger?
Tough life. God rest him.
Oh, the song selection at his wake should be CLASSIC.
“Blue Velvet”
“Blue Monday”
“Midnight Blue”
“Devil with a Blue Dress On”
The list keeps going...
RIP.
Isn’t he one of the Five People You Meet in Heaven.
I got a very bad sunburn on my feet once. The treatment was silver salycate (salysilic acid reacted with silver) applied to my skin.
It reduced the pain immediately, reduced the swelling, but made my feet that color. Because it was applied topically, it washed off.
maybe they should bury him in a big PVC pipe just out of respect
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