Support Jeff Ignatowski's Stroke Recovery

Hi, my name is Sheri Smart, and I'm organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Jeff Ignatowski, a dedicated true crime storyteller, historical collector, and visionary behind the upcoming Odditorium of Wonders, a one-of-a-kind museum of oddities and rare artifacts.

Support Jeff’s Recovery & Dream: The Odditorium of Wonders

Life can change in an instant. For Jeff who has been a passionate collector, researcher, author and storyteller, that instant came as he was preparing for his true crime podcast after having had a late breakfast with his wife—a routine day that quickly turned into a nightmare.

Suddenly, the room spun. Jeff took several deep breaths after dropping to the ground, trying to make the spinning stop and thinking maybe he could stop the feeling but he realized he couldn’t shake it and something was very very wrong.

He had his phone and he desperately dialed his wife but got a voice mail. He tried one more time and sent a message through blurry vision. “Call me” it said, “I need help.”

Caitlin, his wife saw the calls and message minutes later and after trying to reach Jeff with no answer, she also knew something was severely wrong. She quickly dialed her 17 year old, who was gratefully home at the time, to go see what was going on.

Opening Jeff’s office door, Hayden found Jeff on the floor obviously in severe distress. Jeff had somehow managed to dial 911 and handed the phone over for Hayden to speak to the 911 operator.

Caitlin had also called 911 and told the paramedics at the house via speakerphone later, that she’d head straight to the hospital as their 17 year old heroically guided EMTs through the house to Jeff, and stayed on the phone with Caitlin, a moment that likely saved his life.

At Christ Hospital, initial tests misdiagnosed his condition as vertigo until further scans revealed the devastating truth: a large stroke had damaged the cerebellum, the brain’s center for balance and coordination.

He spent days under close supervision in the ICU with often foreboding information from the staff. Doctors monitored closely with hourly cognitive tests, watching for potential catastrophic swelling and running other other scans and tests over the next few days working to determine the cause.

What they began to understand is that Jeff had suffered the stroke because of a blockage in one of his vertebral arteries leaving him facing an uncertain road to recovery.

While Jeff’s heart was found to be healthy, the exact trigger remains unknown—possible causes include high blood pressure or sleep apnea.

Now, as he navigates physical therapy and medical recovery, Jeff and his family are grappling with mounting bills and the challenge of rebuilding their life together.

If you know Jeff, you know that even in the face of this life-altering event, Jeff’s dreams and determination burn bright.

Before this crisis, Jeff was on the cusp of creating something extraordinary:

The Odditorium of Wonders,

a museum dedicated to oddities, sideshow history, and true crime artifacts.

A one-of-a-kind museum that celebrates the strange, the macabre and the forgotten.

This space would be more than just a collection; it would be a celebration of curiosity and storytelling—a place where visitors could marvel at rare treasures and find beauty in the bizarre.

Jeff’s passion for this project spans years of research and collecting. From Houdini and P.T. Barnum to sideshow curiosities and true crime, he envisioned a space where history’s forgotten corners could come alive.

Now, that dream feels farther away but remains a beacon of hope for the stability of his family’s future.

How You Can Help

This fundraiser will support Jeff in two critical ways:

• Medical Recovery: Covering ongoing therapy, medical bills, and living expenses during his recovery.

• Preserving the Dream: Providing seed funding to keep The Odditorium of Wonders project alive as Jeff heals.

Every donation brings Jeff closer to stability both physically and metaphorically —and closer to sharing his vision with the world.

Whether you’re drawn to his story as a survivor, ever a Spartan at heart, or inspired by his dream of celebrating life’s oddities, your support makes all the difference.

Let’s help Jeff recover and bring

The Odditorium of Wonders to life.

Together, we can turn tragedy into triumph and ensure this unique museum becomes a reality.

Thank you for being part of this journey!