“We are heartbroken,” says the San Francisco 49ers athlete who announced the death of his 1-year-old daughter.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers player Charvarius Ward revealed the passing of his 1-year-old daughter Amani Joy.
Ward said that Amani, who he shares with girlfriend Monique Cook, passed on Monday morning and included a picture of the baby, who would have turned two in November.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward wrote in a letter. “She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.”
He went on, “She instilled in us the values of patience, trust, and optimism. She truly displayed courage and strength for us. She triumphed over hardship early in life and was a constant source of joy, illuminating every space.
“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better,” he said. She will always be Mommy’s little girl and Daddy’s best buddy. Amani Joy, you will always be loved and missed.
The cause of Amani’s death was not disclosed by Ward.
Following the revelation, the 49ers posted a message on Instagram expressing their support for the cornerback.
“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,” said the statement. “Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanour and contagious laugh.”
“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time,” the statement said.
On World Down Syndrome Day in March of this year, Ward posted a heartfelt ode to his daughter along with a number of images and videos of Amani.
He captioned the photo at the time, saying, “Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could’ve asked for,” “I now understand that Down syndrome is really a gift from God, whereas before I thought it was a disability. I’ve learnt patience and how to let things go by being Amani’s father. Although we had no control over whether she had Trisomy 21, we did have influence over how we felt about it.
We initially experienced grief and rage, but as soon as we saw her, those emotions turned into unadulterated happiness. After undergoing heart surgery, she became the happiest child he had ever seen,” he continued. “Amani is filled with pure joy & a contagious laugh. My baby makes me smile from ear to ear every time I see her. November 17, 2022 a star was born. We love you AMANI JOY. 
.”
