It was a sweet almost-60th for Joe Simpson, who spent his 59th birthday surrounded by family and friends on Friday, February 17.
Ashlee’s loving dad, who has been bravely tackling prostate cancer since his diagnosis last year, posed cheerfully beside her for a photo she’d later share on social media.
“Happy Birthday Daddy 💚💙 you’re my sunshine ☀ I love you sooooooo very much,” she captioned the snap, in which Joe can be seen pulling a face while his daughter smooches his cheek.
Shortly after, Joe took to Instagram with his own snap featuring a collage of Polaroid moments from his birthday celebrations, where daughter Jessica along with the sister’s husbands Evan Ross and Eric Johnson joined in on the fun.
“Blessed to have these special people in my life,” the talent manager-turned-photographer shared.
Joe’s shock diagnosis came in September last year, when it was revealed through a family rep that he had undergone prostate surgery.
Earlier this month, Us Weekly confirmed that he had begun radiation treatments with his head held high.
“Joe just started radiation. He feels fine, he’s getting through it and still working. It’s all scheduled once a week. He’s super optimistic,” the insider reveals to the publication.
“Doctors are hopeful that this will take care of it and be the last step, and he will hopefully then be in remission and cancer-free.”
The Texas native’s health scare, although tragic, has allowed his family to grow closer than ever. His bond with eldest daughter Jessica has allegedly been repaired from the chasm that followed Joe’s split from the sister’s mother Tina after 34 years of marriage.
“This had made their relationship stronger. She’s been awesome. Jessica was the one he wasn’t as close with, and this made them so close,” a source tells Us.
“They’re all closer because of what he’s going through.”
