What Was Ada Blackjack Son Suffering From?

Ada Blackjack, a native Alaskan woman, is known for her incredible survival story on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean. In 1921, she was recruited to join an expedition to the island, which was intended to establish a settlement and claim the land for Canada. The expedition was led by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a Canadian explorer who believed that he could live off the land and survive without any outside support.

The team consisted of four men and Ada Blackjack, who was hired as a seamstress and cook. The men were responsible for building shelters, hunting for food, and exploring the surrounding area. However, within a few months of their arrival on the island, things began to go wrong.

One of the men became ill with scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. Scurvy can cause fatigue, weakness, and bleeding gums among other symptoms. The man’s condition quickly deteriorated and he died within weeks of falling ill.

The remaining three men decided to leave Wrangel Island in search of help but were never seen again. This left Ada Blackjack alone on the island with no contact with the outside world and no means of survival.

Despite being untrained in wilderness survival skills and having no experience living in such harsh conditions, Ada managed to survive on her own for nearly two years. She hunted small animals for food and built herself a shelter out of animal skins.

When she was finally rescued in 1923 by another expedition team that had been sent to find her original group, Ada was emaciated but alive. She had lost weight due to malnutrition but had managed to avoid scurvy by eating berries that grew on the island.

It is not clear whether or not Ada’s son suffered from any medical conditions prior to her departure for Wrangel Island. However, it is known that he suffered from tuberculosis while she was away.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs and can cause coughing, fever, and weight loss. It is unclear how her son contracted the disease, but it is possible that he was exposed to it before she left for the island.

Despite her incredible survival story, Ada Blackjack’s life after her return from Wrangel Island was not easy. She struggled with poverty and health issues for the rest of her life. However, her story continues to inspire people around the world to this day.

In conclusion, Ada Blackjack’s son was suffering from tuberculosis while she was surviving on Wrangel Island. Her ability to survive in such harsh conditions for nearly two years without any outside help is a testament to the human spirit and our ability to overcome even the most difficult of challenges.