NFL star Charvarius Ward announces death of 23-month-old daughter as team San Francisco 49ers pay tribute

The athlete shared the sad news on Instagram, revealed that his daughter Amani Joy, whom he had welcomed with girlfriend Monique Cooke, had passed away. He wrote in the caption of the heartbreaking post: “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. 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."

“Having the privilege of being her parents and 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’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

Ward’s team, the 49ers, shared their own message of condolence to both Ward and Cook. In a statement, the NFL team said: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.

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

The infant was born on November 17, 2022 with down syndrome and underwent heart surgery following her birth. Ward previously spoke about the family’s experience in an Instagram post celebrating World Down Syndrome Day in March.

He said: "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. 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."