He enjoyed a prosperous career, but over time, kidney function declined: 50 percent capacity, then 20. He began dialysis. The long-term outlook was bleak. Life expectancy without a transplant is typically 5-10 years.
A compatible donor was identified last winter, but a few days after surgery, the new kidney faltered. Simms was shattered. The average wait for someone with his condition is four years.
He followed a disciplined regimen to continue living to the fullest: undergoing dialysis three days a week, monitoring fluids, limiting sodium, maintaining a smart diet, exercising. He founded an indoor cycling studio, which has two locations in the Boston suburbs and is seeking to expand to Washington.