If you’re active on social media, you may not know the name John Schalcosky, but you likely are aware of The Odd, Mysterious and Fascinating history of Pittsburgh.
Schalcosky uses his unique research skills to find interesting and sometimes forgotten facts about our area that remind us that Pittsburgh is truly some place special.
Over the past five-plus months though, John’s ability to research and share his findings with his fans have been hampered by health issues.
He was diagnosed in February with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare aliment that affects someone’s nerves.
He’s also dealing with ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis.
Even though he’s visited the hospital and emergency room several times, his condition has gotten worse, leading to extreme weight loss, pain and more.
He’s scheduled to have a “critical exploratory abdominal surgery” on June 21 to remove part of his colon and address other issues.
According to Schalcosky, he was “wrongfully terminated” from his job in early May.
The loss of income has become too much for the Schalcosky family. In addition to being one of Pittsburgh’s most inspired historians, he is also a husband and father to three boys.
He is now asking for help covering the costs of his health bills to give his family just a little bit of comfort during a difficult time.
If you’re able to give something, you can donate via Venmo, PayPal or GoFundMe.
John has kept his health issues as private as possible, but the bills have become too much.
We at KDKA Radio are grateful for John’s love and passion for our city. You may have even heard him during his countless appearances or on the Pittsburgh Oddcast.
Please consider helping John so he can recover, take care of his family and continue help us understand why Pittsburgh is a one-of-a-kind place to live.