The death of anyone is a sad event but when it is the death of the child, it is particularly difficult. Unfortunately, a well-known sports star has experienced this with his 23-month-old daughter.
A cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, Charvarius Ward has announced that Amani Joy, his daughter passed away. The little girl whom he shared with his girlfriend, Monique Cook, would have turned two in just a few weeks.
Ward went on Instagram and posted: “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.”
Before Amani was born, she was diagnosed with a heart defect and Down syndrome. After being born five weeks early, she underwent heart surgery prior to being six months old.
Ward had talked about his daughter and posted on Instagram to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.
He wrote: “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.”
The 49ers released a statement to support Ward and the family. They said: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,” the team wrote. “Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.”
We hope the family is able to deal with such a difficult situation. May their daughter rest in peace.
