San Francisco 49ers player Charvarius Ward announces the death of a 1-year-old daughter

NFL star Charvarius Ward shared the news that his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy, has passed away.

“We are heartbroken that our beautiful girl, Amani Joy, passed away Monday morning,” Ward, a cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, wrote on Oct. 29 alongside a photo of his daughter. on Instagram.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her cheerful spirit had us smiling from ear to ear,” Ward continued. ‘She taught us patience, confidence and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and courage. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up any room with her smile.”

Ward’s daughter was born prematurely with Down syndrome and suffered from heart problems throughout her short life KNTVan NBC affiliate in the Bay Area. She underwent open-heart surgery in April 2023, the affiliate reported.

Ward concluded his heartbreaking tribute by saying, “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 will miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

Ward continued to share his grief in his Instagram storiesby writing “I’m broken” and adding four broken heart emojis on a black background.

Above the photos of Amani Joy, he wrote: “My baby. My life. My queen. My heart. My everything,” including several more heartbreaks.

The San Francisco 49ers commemorated the death of Amani Joy in a statement on Xwrites: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.”

The statement added that Amani “truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to everyone around her with her sweet attitude and infectious laugh.

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

This article was originally published on TODAY.com