He’s spent a lifetime in everyone else’s corner, now, it’s time for us to be in his!

To many, he’s known as Joe Malenko, but to us he’s simply dad.

Our father Jody Simon is one of those rare people who has spent his life giving so much to others without ever expecting anything in return. He’s humble, incredibly intelligent, always ready with a joke and the kind of person who would quite literally give you the shirt off of his back - just ask Blake Troop.

Whether you know him through wrestling, his career as a pharmacist, his service as a reserve sheriff’s deputy, or simply as a friend, you know he’s never been one to sit still. He’s always doing something, helping someone, or finding a way to make the people around him laugh. Just this past summer, he was in Italy promoting the sport he loves.

Now, for perhaps the first time in his life, he’s the one who really needs a helping hand and to tag us all in to fight with him.

Over the past few months, our dad has faced an incredibly difficult and unexpected medical journey. What began as a few days stay in the hospital after surgery, turned into a series of life-threatening complications, leaving him in intensive care and fighting for his life.

Today, he is awake and he is still fighting each day like an opponent in the ring. But the road ahead will require extensive rehabilitation and continued medical care, even with all that he’s already overcome.

As his daughters, all we want is to give our dad every opportunity to recover, regain his strength and get back to doing all the things that he loves.

That is why we’re asking for your help.

We’re starting this fundraiser to help cover the rehabilitation and medical expenses insurance won’t. As his recovery progresses and his needs become clearer, we will continue to share updates. If there’s one thing this experience has reminded us of, it’s just how many people love and care about our dad. The messages, prayers and kindness we’ve received over these past few months have meant more to us than we can ever express.

Whether you’re able to donate, share this fundraiser, or simply send a prayer or a few words of encouragement, please know we will be forever grateful.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for loving our dad and standing in his corner.