A 49ers player is grieving the loss of their daughter, who was 23 months old.
On Tuesday, October 29, 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward revealed the death of his daughter, Amani Joy. His fiancée Monique Cook and his kid were only a few weeks away from turning two.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning. She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward wrote on Instagram.
“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.”
Amani was identified in utero as having a cardiac abnormality and Down syndrome, according to SFGate. Before she was six months old, she had heart surgery after being born five weeks early.
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day earlier this year, Ward wrote a post on Instagram devoted to his daughter.
“Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could’ve asked for. I used to think Down syndrome was a handicap, but now I realize it is just a gift from God,” he wrote.
“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be. We couldn’t control whether she had trisomy 21, but we can control our attitude about it.”
Additionally, the 49ers 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.”
