San Francisco 49ers star Charvarius Ward’s one-year-old daughter tragically dies

The one-year-old daughter of San Francisco 49ers star Charvarius Ward died Monday.

Amani Joy died just before her second birthday after battling heart problems since her birth in 2022.

A cause of death was not immediately known.

Ward, a cornerback for the San Francisco organization, confirmed the news of the loss of his “beautiful baby daughter” as he paid tribute in an emotional statement Tuesday afternoon.

“We are heartbroken that our beautiful girl, Amani Joy, passed away Monday morning,” he wrote.

Amani Joy, who would have turned two in November, is pictured with her mother Monique

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her cheerful spirit made us smile from ear to ear. 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.

“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.”

‘My baby. God, why?’ Ward’s partner, Monique, posted this in a heartbreaking Instagram story.

Amani, who would have celebrated her second birthday on November 17, was born prematurely with Down syndrome and suffered from a number of health problems throughout her life.

The toddler underwent open-heart surgery on April 11, 2023 – about six months after her birth – after being born with holes in her heart.

Ward talked about his daughter’s condition last year on his then teammate Ark Armstead’s podcast.

“She was born with two holes in her heart,” Ward told Armstead. “The doctor said, ‘If the holes close up, she’ll be fine.’ One closed and the other continued to expand and grow, reaching the size of a fist. … They were like, we need to do the operation as quickly as possible.

‘That was scary, because it is a very serious operation. And it’s your child, you just feel for her, it’s not in your hands, you can’t do anything about it.’

Ward’s friend, Monique Cook, shared a heartbreaking message on her Instagram Story

Amani was born prematurely with Down syndrome and suffered from a number of health problems

The 49ers franchise also announced the heartbreaking news of Amani’s death on Tuesday afternoon, sending “love and support” to Ward and his girlfriend Monique.

“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,” the team’s statement said.

‘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.”

Ward candidly discussed his daughter’s Down syndrome, describing it as a gift while praising Amani’s infectious joy.

“Amani Joy Ward is the best blessing I could have asked for,” he posted on Instagram on World Down Syndrome Day in March.

‘I used to think Down Syndrome was a disability, but now I realize it’s just a gift from God. As Amani’s father, I have learned patience and how to surrender and let things be. We had no control over whether she had trisomy 21, but we could control our attitude about it. At first we went through feelings of sadness and anger, but those feelings turned into pure joy as soon as we saw her. She went from having heart surgery to being the happiest child I have ever experienced.

‘Amani is filled with pure joy and an infectious laugh. Every time I see her, my baby makes me smile from ear to ear. November 17, 2022 a star was born. We love you AMANI JOY.”

The devastating news comes just two days after Ward suited up for the 49ers in a 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium.

Ward candidly discussed his daughter’s Down syndrome while praising Amani’s infectious joy

The devastating news comes just two days after Ward committed to the 49ers

The 28-year-old is in his third season in San Francisco and seventh in the NFL after starting his career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018.

Ward, who was raised by his mother, Tanya, while his father was in prison during his childhood, had previously opened up about his joy at becoming a father.

He credited his growing bond with his bundle of joy to his improvement on the field last season when he became a Pro-Bowler for the first time.

“It weighed on my conscience,” Ward told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan last season. ‘Why can’t I connect with my daughter? This is my seed. I couldn’t connect with her at all and it hurt my feelings.

‘It was on my mind a lot. I’m trying not to make excuses, but ever since we got closer, I’ve been bummed. Shoutout to God and my daughter for making that relationship work.”

The 49ers are entering a bye week after their win over Dallas this weekend, allowing Ward to spend time with his grieving family. San Francisco returns to action on November 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.