San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward announced the death of his one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.
Ward shared a touching tribute to his daughter on Instagram, describing her as “the greatest blessing.”
“We are heartbroken to learn that our beautiful daughter, Amani Joy, passed away Monday morning. “She was the greatest blessing we could have asked for, and her joyful spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward began.
Amani, who will celebrate her second birthday this November, has faced serious health problems since birth.
Born prematurely with Down syndrome, she has battled a series of health problems, including undergoing open-heart surgery in April 2023.
“He overcame adversity at a young age and is always happy, brightening up every space with his smile,” said Chavarius. “Being her parents and having the privilege of seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better. She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We will miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
On World Down Syndrome Day earlier this year, the NFL star spoke publicly about the joys and challenges of raising Amani, revealing the impact she has had on his life.
“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. Becoming Amani’s father taught me patience, how to surrender, and how to let things be. “We can’t control whether she has trisomy 21 or not, but we can control our attitude toward it,” he said.
He spoke of the sadness and anger the family first felt after learning of Amani’s diagnosis.
“At first I had feelings of sadness and anger, but the moment I saw her, those feelings turned into pure joy,” he said. “She had heart surgery and became the happiest child I have ever seen. Amani is filled with pure joy and infectious laughter. My baby makes me smile from ear to ear every time I see her. On November 17, 2022, a star was born. We love AMANI JOY.”
