San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward shared the news of the passing of his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward wrote in his post. “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.”
In addition to the Instagram post in which he paid tribute to his little girl, Ward also shared two Instagram stories, one displaying a black background with the words “I’m Broken 💔💔💔💔,” and another one showing sweet Amani Joy in an onesie, with the message, “My Baby. My Life. My Queen. My Heart. My Everything 💔💔💔💔💔.”
The 49ers shared their condolences. “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,” their statement read. “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.”
As per NBC, Amani Joy, who had Down Syndrome, was born prematurely and experienced heart issues.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ward family.