A member of the San Francisco 49ers is mourning the death of their 23-month-old daughter.
Charvarius Ward, a cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, shared the tragic news on Tuesday, October 29, regarding the passing of his daughter, Amani Joy. Amani, who was just weeks away from celebrating her second birthday, was the child of Ward and his partner, Monique Cook.
In an emotional post on Instagram, Ward expressed, “We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy, who passed away on Monday morning. She was the greatest blessing we could have ever hoped for, and her joyful spirit brought immense happiness to our lives.”
He continued, “Amani taught us the values of patience, trust, and maintaining a positive perspective on life. She exemplified true strength and courage, overcoming challenges from a young age while always radiating happiness and illuminating every space with her smile.”
As reported by SFGate, Amani was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect while still in the womb. She was born five weeks premature and underwent heart surgery before reaching six months of age.
Earlier this year, Ward honored his daughter with a heartfelt post on Instagram in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day.
“Amani Joy Ward has been the greatest blessing I could have ever wished for. I once perceived Down Syndrome as a limitation, but I have come to understand it as a divine gift,” he expressed.
“Being Amani’s father has imparted lessons in patience and the importance of acceptance. While we could not influence her having Trisomy 21, we can certainly choose our perspective on it.”
The 49ers also issued a statement expressing their support for Ward and his family.
“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,” the team wrote. “Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.”