September 26, 2006, changed the Simmons family forever. Victoria Anne Simmons was born that day. Her parents were Justine Simmons and Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons. The birth took place in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

The family had expected a happy new arrival. Instead, doctors found a severe birth defect. Victoria had omphalocele. She died only a few hours after birth.

Her parents were public figures at the time. Rev Run was famous through Run-D.M.C. The family also starred on MTV’s Run’s House. Their loss later became part of the show.

Quick Bio

Who Was Victoria Anne Simmons?

Victoria was the sixth child of Rev Run. She was his third child with Justine. The couple had two sons before her birth. Their names are Diggy Simmons and Russy Simmons.

Rev Run also had three older children. They came from his first marriage. They are Vanessa Simmons, Angela Simmons, and JoJo Simmons. All five children appeared on the family show.

The baby entered a well known family. Yet her own life was very short. There was no childhood or public career. Her story centers on one tragic day.

That fact matters when writing about her. There are many weak claims online. Some sites add details with no proof. A careful account should not do that.

Victoria Anne Simmons Was Born in New Jersey

The birth happened at Valley Hospital. The hospital is in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Doctors delivered the baby by Caesarean section. She weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces.

The birth soon became a medical crisis. Doctors found a serious problem. The baby had omphalocele. The defect affected her abdominal wall.

Victoria Anne Simmons died on September 26, 2006. It was the same day she was born. She lived for only a few hours. Her family then faced an awful loss.

Rev Run released a statement after her death. He thanked people for their prayers. He also spoke about faith and acceptance. Justine was recovering from the delivery.

What Is Omphalocele?

Omphalocele is a birth defect. It affects the wall of the belly. The problem starts before birth. Some organs remain outside the abdomen.

The intestines may be outside the belly. The liver can be outside as well. A thin sac often covers the organs. The opening is near the belly button.

The defect can be small or large. Each baby may need different care. Doctors look at the size first. They also check the baby’s full health.

Some babies need surgery after birth. Large defects may need more care. Doctors may plan treatment in stages. The exact plan depends on each case.

The Loss on Run’s House

The pregnancy was part of Run’s House. MTV had started the series in 2005. The show followed the Simmons family at home. It mixed family life with Rev Run’s work.

Season 3 opened with a special episode. Its title was “Victoria Anne Simmons.” The episode began before the birth. The family was waiting for the baby.

The mood changed after the hospital visit. Rev Run and Justine had terrible news. They had to tell the other children. Cameras recorded part of that family talk.

The scene was not normal reality TV drama. The children were hearing about a death. Their parents were grieving too. That made the episode hard to watch.

The Family Chose to Keep Filming

Rev Run and Justine made a hard choice. They let the cameras remain with them. They did not hide the loss from viewers. Faith shaped that choice.

Rev Run was also a minister. His faith was central to the show. He wanted people to see real family pain. He also wanted to show their response.

That did not make the grief simple. Justine later spoke about the deep pain. The family had lost a newborn child. No short message could remove that hurt.

Their choice gave the episode lasting weight. It showed grief without a neat ending. That is rare in family reality shows. The moment stayed tied to Victoria’s name.

Rev Run as Victoria’s Father

Joseph Simmons is better known as Rev Run. He became famous through Run-D.M.C. The hip hop group formed in New York. It became a major act in the 1980s.

The group also included Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell was another member. Their music reached a huge audience. It helped hip hop reach more homes.

Rev Run later moved into reality television. Run’s House showed a different side of him. Viewers saw him as a father. They also saw his role as a husband.

Victoria’s death changed that family story. The show moved away from light moments. Rev Run had to support his wife. He also had to guide his children.

Justine Simmons as Victoria’s Mother

Justine Simmons married Rev Run in 1994. She became a key face on Run’s House. The show often focused on her home life. It also showed her role as a mother.

She and Rev Run had Diggy and Russy. Victoria was their next child together. Her birth brought joy at first. That joy ended within hours.

The loss had a deep effect on Justine. She spoke about it years later. She did not present grief as easy. Her comments showed how long pain can stay.

Justine still wanted a larger family. Adoption had interested her before the pregnancy. That wish returned after the loss. It later led to another daughter.

Victoria Had Five Older Siblings

Five older children were in the family home. Vanessa Simmons was the oldest child. She became known through television and fashion. She also worked as an actress.

Angela Simmons built a public career too. She worked in fashion and television. JoJo Simmons worked in music and media. All three were Rev Run’s older children.

Diggy and Russy were younger. Both appeared often on Run’s House. Diggy later worked in music and acting. Russy remained part of family TV projects.

The children shared the family’s grief. They learned about the death from their parents. The cameras caught that painful moment. It became part of Season 3.

Why Did Rev Run and Justine Choose Adoption?

Adoption was not a sudden idea. Justine had thought about it before Victoria. The couple returned to the idea later. They then chose to move forward.

In 2007, they adopted Miley Justine Simmons. She became the youngest child in the home. Her arrival came about a year after the loss. The family welcomed her as their daughter.

The adoption also appeared on Run’s House. Viewers saw the couple discuss the choice. They saw parts of the process too. Miley later appeared with the family.

The adoption did not replace Victoria Anne Simmons. The family treated both events in their own way. One event was a painful death. The other was a new beginning.

Victoria Anne Simmons and the Family’s Faith

Faith was a major part of the Simmons home. Rev Run spoke about it on television. Prayer was common on the show. Family talks often ended with a lesson.

The loss tested that faith in public. Rev Run spoke about accepting what happened. Justine spoke more about the pain. Both views became part of their story.

Years later, the couple returned to the subject. They discussed it in Old School Love: And Why It Works. The book covers their marriage and family life. It also touches on the loss.

Their words did not erase the tragedy. They showed how the family lived with it. Victoria remained part of their family story. Her name was not treated as forgotten.

Her Place in Run’s House History

Run’s House often had a light tone. The show featured jokes and family problems. It also showed work and school life. Victoria’s story was very different.

Season 3 began with real grief. The episode used her full name as its title. That made her memory part of the series. It also marked a clear change in tone.

Reality shows can make private moments feel staged. This episode carried a different weight. A baby had died. The family was dealing with that loss on camera.

Victoria Anne Simmons had no public career. She never grew up before viewers. Yet one episode kept her name in the show’s history. Her parents spoke about her years after it aired.

Facts About Victoria Anne Simmons

• Born on September 26, 2006.

• Birth took place in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

• Parents were Rev Run and Justine Simmons.

• Birth weight was 4 pounds, 5 ounces.

• Delivery was by Caesarean section.

• Medical condition was omphalocele.

• Death occurred only a few hours after birth.

• Five older siblings were in the family.

• Run’s House covered the family’s loss.

• Season 3 opened with an episode named after her.

• Parents later wrote about the loss.

• Miley Justine Simmons joined the family in 2007.

FAQs

Who was Victoria Anne Simmons?

Victoria Anne Simmons was the infant daughter of Rev Run and Justine Simmons. She was born on September 26, 2006. Her birth took place in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She died only a few hours later.

What happened to Victoria Anne Simmons?

She was born with omphalocele. It is a serious birth defect. Some organs remain outside the belly. Victoria died a few hours after birth.

What is omphalocele?

Omphalocele affects the abdominal wall before birth. Some organs remain outside the abdomen. A thin sac often covers them. Treatment depends on the size and other health issues.

Was Victoria Anne Simmons on Run’s House?

Her pregnancy and birth were part of Run’s House. Season 3 opened with an episode using her name. It also showed the family facing her death. The episode became one of the show’s saddest stories.

Did Rev Run and Justine adopt after Victoria’s death?

Yes. They adopted Miley Justine Simmons in 2007. Justine had thought about adoption before Victoria’s birth. The choice later became part of Run’s House. Miley joined the Simmons family as their daughter.