Are there any Blue Fugates alive?

Isolation and in-breeding passed on the disorder. The last in the direct line of Fugates to inherit the gene was Benjamin “Benjy” Stacy, whose skin at birth was “as Blue as Lake Louise,” according to doctors at the time. He now lives in Alaska, according to Facebook.

Why are Appalachian people blue?

The Fugates, a family that lived in the hills of Kentucky, commonly known as the “Blue Fugates” or the “Blue People of Kentucky”, are notable for having been carriers of a genetic trait that led to the blood disorder methemoglobinemia, which causes the appearance of blue-tinged skin.

Are there humans with blue skin?

Yes, it turns out, and a family living in Appalachia had the condition for generations. In their case, blue skin was caused by a rare genetic disease called methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which an abnormally high amount of methemoglobin — a form of hemoglobin — is produced.

Does inbreeding cause blue skin?

It really happened: Six generations of inbreeding spanning the years 1800 to 1960 caused an isolated population of humans living in the hills of Kentucky to become blue-skinned.

Where is Troublesome Creek?

Kentucky
Troublesome Creek is a creek in Breathitt, Perry and Knott counties, Kentucky. The surrounding watershed is also named for it. The creek joins the North Fork Kentucky River downstream near the unincorporated community of Haddix.

Is Troublesome Creek a real place?

Troublesome Creek is a real place in Breathitt, Perry and Knott counties. The Pack Horse Library Project was a real effort to bring books to Eastern Kentucky between the years of 1935-1943.

What is inbred Appalachian family?

The eastern mountain people of Kentucky are called the Appalachians have been known to inbreed. This means that they marry and have children with their blood relatives.

What causes people’s skin to turn blue?

Cyanosis occurs when there’s too little oxygen in the blood. Oxygen-rich blood is deep red and causes your skin’s normal color. Under-oxygenated blood is bluer and causes your skin to look bluish purple. Cyanosis can develop quickly due to an acute health problem or external factor.

What is the cure for methemoglobinemia?

Methylene blue is used to treat severe cases of MetHb, and doctors may prescribe ascorbic acid to reduce the level of methemoglobin in the blood. In severe cases, a person may require a blood transfusion or exchange transfusion. Oxygen therapy will also be provided, if required.

Is the book Woman of Troublesome Creek a true story?

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek was inspired by the true, historical blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse Library Service, which spanned the 1930s and early ’40s during eastern Kentucky’s most violent era.