Star San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward has announced that his 1-year-old daughter tragically passed away.
"We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning," Ward wrote Monday on Instagram, calling her "the best blessing we could have asked for."
"She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile. Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better," he wrote. "She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy."
Amani Joy was born prematurely with Down syndrome and had experienced heart issues since birth, NBC Sports reported.
The 49ers said in a statement Tuesday: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.
“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh," the team said. "We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
In March, Ward had opened up on Instagram about his daughter’s Down syndrome, writing: “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realize it is just a gift from God.”
He said becoming a father to Amani taught him patience and to surrender.
“We couldn’t control whether she had Trisomy 21 but we can control our attitude about it. At first we went through feelings of sadness & anger but those feelings transformed into pure joy as soon as we laid eyes on her,” he said. “She went from heart surgery to the happiest kid I’ve ever been around. 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.”
