The Blue People Of Kentucky

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Martin and Elizabeth (Smith) Fugate

The decedents of Martin Fugate (abt.1820-abt.1899) and Elizabeth (Smith) Fugate (1822-bef.1922) lived in and around Troublesome Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States. The family was also known as the "Blue Fugates" or the "Blue People of Kentucky", They are notable for having been carriers of a genetic trait that led to the blood disorder methemoglobinemia, which caused the appearance of blue-tinged skin. This is their story. ^[1]

WikiTree Profiles that link to this page.

The People

Martin Fugate was a French Orphan Who moved to the hills in Kentucky. He met and fell in love with Elizabeth Smith. Martin had a rare condition that could cause his children to be born blue. They were both unaware that the fair skinned bride also carried the gene. The condition caused at least 4 of their children to be born Indio blue.

The Condition

Methemoglobinemia causes methemoglobin levels in the red blood cells to rise above 1 percent. It turns the skin blue, the lips purple, and the blood a chocolate brown. It caused a deficiency in an enzyme called cytochrome-b5 methemoglobin reductase. The condition does not cause heath problems. Only one in 100,000 people carry this gene and it takes two people with that same gene to produce a blue child.

The Community

The families were living in Troublesome Creek, and in nearby Ball Creek. Troublesome was a remote town near Hazard Kentucky and the residents weren’t friendly or kind to the Blue People which caused them to isolate themselves deeper in the hills. Due to their isolation, the Fugates began inter-marrying, which led to a higher likelihood of passing along the met-H gene, and having blue-skinned children.

The Cure

In the mid-60’s two of Martin’s descendants went to see a specialist whom they had heard was investigating their condition. They were tired of being blue and hoped Madison Cawein, a hematologist at the University of Kentucky’s medical clinic could help. Cawein was able to conclude that the Fugates carried a rare hereditary blood disorder that causes excessive levels of methemoglobin in their blood. He treated Patrick and Racheal by injecting them with Methylene blue which restores normal iron levels in the blood. Within a few minutes, the blue coloration of their skin started to disappear. Once their blood reached normal levels they were able to take pills of the substance regularly to maintain a normal pink skin color.