Obituary for Delilah M. Simmons
Delilah Michelle Simmons, daughter of Kym Jordan Simmons and
Vernon Simmons, was born May 23, 2006 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Delilah was at home in Highland Park, when she was called home on
February 6, 2020.
At birth, doctors did not expect Delilah to live long. She spent her
first week of life in the NICU where specialists soon diagnosed her with the
rare chromosomal disorder, Trisomy 13. Her prognosis was grim, with a life
expectancy of about six weeks; thus, her parents took their newborn home on
hospice; however, Delilah defied the odds.
She lived, grew and thrived in her own way. She attended both the
Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in Oakland and Child’s
Way Child Care Center for medically fragile children in Garfield.
Delilah was feisty. She knew what she liked and what she did not.
Despite not being able to talk, she communicated her preferences in her own
way. She found comfort in snuggling with her loved ones, listening to her
favorite Music Together songs and smooth jazz on repeat. Delilah loved
eating bananas, Brioche Bostock danish from La Gourmandine Bakery,
fish, and her Aunt Juliet’s collard greens.
Delilah enjoyed an easy companionship with her big brother, Ellis,
who was frequently at her side to help care for and encourage her as they got
older. They sometimes “wrestled” with Ellis being the ever-gentle big brother
and Delilah sometimes winning the tussle by pinning him down. Theirs was a
special bond that was commented on by family, friends, and caregivers.
Family, friends, and caregivers noticed Delilah’s love of sunshine. She
often crawled to the windows at home, school, and Child’s Way, and pulled
up to a stand, basking in the glow. While outside in her wheelchair, she often
turned her face to find a sunbeam, much like a sunflower.
Delilah is survived by her parents, Kym and
Vernon, her brother, Ellis, Vernon’s siblings: Juliet
Morgan (North Carolina), Kermath Simmons
(Delaware), Stantin Simmons (North Carolina), Gary
Simmons (North Carolina), Jeffrey Simmons
(Washington) and Kym’s sister: Keri Jordan Leander
(New York), other relatives and friends.
Vernon Simmons, was born May 23, 2006 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Delilah was at home in Highland Park, when she was called home on
February 6, 2020.
At birth, doctors did not expect Delilah to live long. She spent her
first week of life in the NICU where specialists soon diagnosed her with the
rare chromosomal disorder, Trisomy 13. Her prognosis was grim, with a life
expectancy of about six weeks; thus, her parents took their newborn home on
hospice; however, Delilah defied the odds.
She lived, grew and thrived in her own way. She attended both the
Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in Oakland and Child’s
Way Child Care Center for medically fragile children in Garfield.
Delilah was feisty. She knew what she liked and what she did not.
Despite not being able to talk, she communicated her preferences in her own
way. She found comfort in snuggling with her loved ones, listening to her
favorite Music Together songs and smooth jazz on repeat. Delilah loved
eating bananas, Brioche Bostock danish from La Gourmandine Bakery,
fish, and her Aunt Juliet’s collard greens.
Delilah enjoyed an easy companionship with her big brother, Ellis,
who was frequently at her side to help care for and encourage her as they got
older. They sometimes “wrestled” with Ellis being the ever-gentle big brother
and Delilah sometimes winning the tussle by pinning him down. Theirs was a
special bond that was commented on by family, friends, and caregivers.
Family, friends, and caregivers noticed Delilah’s love of sunshine. She
often crawled to the windows at home, school, and Child’s Way, and pulled
up to a stand, basking in the glow. While outside in her wheelchair, she often
turned her face to find a sunbeam, much like a sunflower.
Delilah is survived by her parents, Kym and
Vernon, her brother, Ellis, Vernon’s siblings: Juliet
Morgan (North Carolina), Kermath Simmons
(Delaware), Stantin Simmons (North Carolina), Gary
Simmons (North Carolina), Jeffrey Simmons
(Washington) and Kym’s sister: Keri Jordan Leander
(New York), other relatives and friends.