SAN FRANCISCO — The 1-year-old daughter of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward died Monday morning, according to Ward and the NFL team.
Amani Joy Ward, 1, died suddenly, the San Francisco 49ers wrote in their social media post. A cause of death was not provided, but Ward said in March his daughter at one point underwent heart surgery.
“She went from heart surgery to the happiest kid I’ve ever been around,” Ward said.
She was born on Nov. 17, 2022, with Down syndrome, according to Ward.
“We couldn’t control whether she had Trisomy 21 but we can control our attitude about it,” Ward said. “At first we went through feelings of sadness and anger but those feelings transformed into pure joy as soon as we laid eyes on her.”
He said his daughter taught him and his partner, Monique, to have patience, trust and a positive outlook on life. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile, he said.
“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward wrote Monday on Instagram. “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.”
