Victoria Anne Simmons was the daughter of rapper and television personality Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and his wife, Justine Simmons. She was born on September 26, 2006, but died only a few hours later because of a serious birth defect called omphalocele. Her birth and death were documented on the family’s MTV reality show Run’s House, bringing her story to a wide audience.
Victoria Anne Simmons was the sixth child in the Simmons family at the time of her birth. Her parents later spoke openly about losing her, their faith during the difficult period, and how they eventually adopted another daughter, Miley.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Victoria Anne Simmons |
| Date of birth | September 26, 2006 |
| Place of birth | Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, New Jersey |
| Age at death | A few hours old |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Father | Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons |
| Mother | Justine Simmons |
| Birth weight | About 4.5 pounds |
| Cause of death | Complications related to omphalocele |
| Siblings | Vanessa, Angela, Joseph Jr., Daniel, Russell II, and later Miley |
| Known for | Being Rev Run and Justine Simmons’ daughter |
Victoria Anne Simmons’ Birth
Victoria Anne was born on September 26, 2006, at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Her parents were already raising five children when Justine became pregnant. She was 42 and Joseph was 43 at the time.
Justine later described the pregnancy as a miracle because of her age. She also said that the pregnancy was difficult and that she struggled to eat and did not gain much weight.
The family knew they were expecting a girl. For much of the pregnancy, doctors could not confirm the baby’s sex, but Justine and Joseph believed they were having a daughter.
Her Medical Condition
During the pregnancy, doctors discovered that Victoria had omphalocele, a serious congenital birth defect.
Omphalocele occurs when some of a baby’s internal organs develop outside the abdomen. The condition can vary in severity and can require major medical treatment.
Joseph and Justine decided to continue the pregnancy after learning about Victoria’s condition. Their Christian faith played an important role in their decision.
The couple kept the diagnosis mostly private. According to the supplied reports, they told their bishop and pastor but did not widely discuss the condition before Victoria’s birth.
Joseph said he prayed every morning and believed that God could heal their daughter.
Victoria’s Death
Victoria Anne Simmons was delivered by C-section on September 26, 2006.
She died only a few hours after being born. Her reported birth weight was about 4.5 pounds (1.96 kilograms).
The family was devastated by her death. Joseph later released a statement through MTV saying that the family had to accept what had happened and find strength through their faith.
Victoria’s short life became part of the Simmons family’s public story because the family was filming Run’s House during the pregnancy and around the time of her birth.
Victoria on Run’s House
Run’s House was an MTV reality series that followed Joseph Simmons, Justine Simmons, and their children.
The show documented the family’s daily life and major events. Victoria’s birth and death were among the most difficult events shown on the program.
Joseph later explained that he allowed the cameras to continue filming because viewers had become closely connected to the Simmons family through the show.
The family’s reaction to Victoria’s death was shown during the series. Her siblings were also seen dealing with the loss.
Her Parents, Rev Run and Justine Simmons
Victoria’s father, Joseph Simmons, is better known as Rev Run or DJ Run. He was one of the founding members of the influential hip-hop group Run-DMC.
After his music career, he became a television personality through Run’s House. He also became an ordained minister in 1994.
Victoria’s mother, Justine Simmons, is a designer, author, philanthropist, and television personality. She has worked with the Brown Sugar jewelry line and has written books including God Can You Hear Me and Take Back Your Family.
Both parents have spoken publicly about Victoria’s death and the process of dealing with their grief.
Victoria’s Siblings
Victoria was born into a large family.
Before her birth, Rev Run and Justine were raising five children. Three were Rev Run’s children from an earlier relationship:
- Vanessa Simmons
- Angela Simmons
- Joseph “JoJo” Simmons Jr.
Rev Run and Justine also had two sons together:
- Daniel “Diggy” Simmons
- Russell “Russy” Simmons II
Victoria Anne Simmons would have been the family’s sixth child and Rev Run’s third daughter.
The couple later adopted Miley Justine Simmons, who became Victoria’s younger sister.
How Victoria’s Death Affected the Family
The loss affected every member of the Simmons family.
Joseph later said that Daniel “Diggy” Simmons took the news particularly hard. The children were shown reacting to the loss on Run’s House.
Joseph and Justine relied on each other and their faith while dealing with what happened.
Justine later explained that she did not try to hide her sadness. She wrote about the physical and emotional effects of losing a child in the book she co-wrote with Rev Run, Old School Love: And Why It Works.
The book discusses their marriage, family values, faith, and the experience of losing Victoria.
The Family’s Decision to Adopt Miley
Adoption had already been an idea Justine had considered before Victoria’s birth.
After Victoria Anne Simmons died, Joseph brought up adoption again while Justine was recovering.
Justine agreed to the idea. About one year after Victoria’s death, the couple adopted Miley Justine Simmons.
The adoption process was completed in September 2007. Miley later appeared on Run’s House and other family programs.
Justine has described adoption as an important part of the family’s life after Victoria’s death.
Victoria’s Place in the Simmons Family
Victoria Anne Simmons lived for only a few hours, so there is no information about her education, career, relationships, or personal achievements.
Her story is mainly connected to her parents, her siblings, Run’s House, and the family’s experience with loss and faith.
Joseph and Justine have continued to speak about Victoria when discussing their family history and their healing process.
Interesting Facts
- Victoria Anne Simmons was born on September 26, 2006.
- She was born at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
- She was the daughter of Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Justine Simmons.
- Her reported birth weight was 4.5 pounds.
- Doctors diagnosed her with omphalocele during pregnancy.
- She was delivered by C-section.
- She died a few hours after birth.
- Her birth and death were documented on MTV’s Run’s House.
- She had five older siblings when she was born.
- Her parents later adopted Miley Justine Simmons.
- Her parents discussed her death in their book Old School Love: And Why It Works.
- Victoria was a member of the Simmons family for only a few hours, but her story became an important part of the family’s public history.
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