But throughout his years of suffering, missing out on his children's activities and confinement to his bed, the Gulf War veteran always had a smile on his face - and that's something his family will greatly miss.
"That was one thing about him," said his brother, Sam Sims. "He never stopped smiling."
After battling the debilitating Lou Gehrig's disease for several years, Joey Sims died quietly in his home Saturday at the age of 35.
"He was a die-hard patriot and a die-hard American," Sam Sims said. "If anything, he was apologetic because he didn't want to be a burden on everyone. He was always smiling and he always liked to laugh."
An infantry soldier in the Army for 10 years, Joey Sims returned from the Gulf War in 1992 with a skin rash and memory problems, but Veterans Affairs nurses repeatedly told him it was allergies and stress.
Convinced his brain disease was a result of exposure to nerve gas, anthrax and depleted uranium during his time in the Saudi Arabian desert, Joey Sims fought to get the VA to recognize the link between his exposure and his disease - and won.
"I think he helped several people," Sam Sims said. "We know of at least 10 other people who sent e-mails that they got their benefits too." A few days after receiving his back pay, Joey Sims decided to take his wife, Nathalie, and children on a trip to Walt Disney World.
He wanted to give his twins, 13-year-old Dusty and Misty, something to remember.
"That was the last time he really got to go out with his family," Sam Sims said. "After that he was pretty much bed-ridden."
Even as his disease forced him into a wheelchair and finally completely into bed, Joey Sims enjoyed life.
"The last time I took him duck hunting, we put him into a wheelchair and wheeled him into the slew area," Sam Sims said. "We brought out a recliner that was green and put it in the pasture and put him right in it. Then we covered him with ponchos and the ducks flew right over his head. The recliner's still out there. We laughed about it every time we talked about it."
Joey Sims loved the outdoors and being forced to stay in bed was tough, but he found diversions.
"For him to have to stay inside - I think that hurt him more than the disease did," Sam Sims said. "But he's got a DVD collection you wouldn't believe. He watched all the movies that came out on DVD. "Pure Country" or "8 Seconds" were his favorites; they reminded him of when he was in the rodeo."
With his death, the lives of his family will never be the same, but it's through Joey Sims' life that all who knew him are forever changed. "He showed us that no matter what comes up, life is precious," Sam Sims said. "No matter what happens, you have to deal with it and make the best of it - that's what Joey did."
©Tyler Morning Telegraph 2002