San Francisco 49ers star cornerback Charvarius Ward announced the tragic passing of his 1-year-old daughter.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward wrote on Instagram on Monday, adding, “As we had hoped… It was the greatest blessing.”
“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up any room with a smile. The privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has inspired us to be better.” You changed me,” he wrote. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
Amani Joy was born prematurely with Down syndrome and has had heart problems since birth, NBC Sports reported.
The 49ers said in a statement Tuesday: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden death of Charvarius Ward’s beloved 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.
“Amani truly epitomized pure happiness and brought joy to those around her with her kind demeanor and contagious laugh,” the team said, adding, “We send our love and support to them during this unimaginable time.” As we send them off, we continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique.” ”
“I thought Down syndrome was a handicap, but now I understand it’s simply a gift from God,” Ward wrote on Instagram in March about her daughter’s Down syndrome.
He said being a father to Amani taught him patience and surrender.
“We couldn’t control whether she had trisomy 21, but we can control our attitude towards it. At first we experienced feelings of sadness and anger, but “The moment I saw her, those feelings turned into pure joy,” he said. “She had heart surgery and has grown up to be the happiest child I have ever met. Amani is filled with pure joy and contagious laughter. Every time I see her, my baby is laughing from ear to ear. A star was born on November 17, 2022.
