San Francisco 49ers' Charvarius Ward announces the death of his 23-month-old daughter

Charvarius Ward mourns the loss of his little girl.

The 28-year-old San Francisco 49ers cornerback announced on Tuesday, October 29, that his 23-month-old daughter Amani Joy, whom he shares with girlfriend Monique Cook, has died. Ward shared a photo of his daughter on Instagram and wrote that his family was “heartbroken” as they processed the tragic news.

“We are heartbroken to learn that our beautiful little girl, Amani Joy, passed away on Monday morning. She was the best blessing we could have asked for and her joyful spirit had us smiling from ear to ear,” Ward wrote in the caption.

“She taught us patience, trust and a positive attitude towards life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up any room with her smile.”

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“The privilege of being their parents and seeing the world through their eyes has changed us for the better. She will forever be daddy's best friend and mommy's little girl. We will miss and love you forever, Amani Joy,” he ended his post.

The 49ers also released a statement on Instagram sending their love and support to Ward and Cook.

“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden death of Charvarius Ward's beloved 1-year-old daughter Amani Joy,” they wrote. “Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to everyone around her with her sweet demeanor and infectious laugh.”

“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique and send them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Last March, Ward shared a carousel of photos of his daughter as he celebrated World Down Syndrome Day.

“Amani Joy Ward was the greatest blessing I could have asked for. I used to think Down syndrome was a disability, but now I realize it's just a gift from God,” Ward wrote in his post.

“As Amani’s father, I learned patience and how to surrender and let things happen. We couldn’t control whether she had trisomy 21, but we can control how we feel about it.”

Ward noted that his feelings turned from sadness and anger to joy, adding that she also underwent heart surgery after being diagnosed with Down syndrome.

“Amani is full of pure joy and an infectious laugh. My baby makes me smile every time I see her. A star was born on November 17, 2022. We love you AMANI JOY. 💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙 💛💙💛💙.