49ers CB Charvarius Ward's 1-year-old daughter dies: 'She showed us true strength and bravery'

Charvarius Ward is mourning the loss of his one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy, who passed away on Monday.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for and her joyful spirit had us smiling from ear to ear,” Ward wrote on social media Tuesday. “She taught us to have patience, trust and a positive outlook on life.”

Ward had spoken openly about the challenges and fears he and girlfriend Monique Cook faced after Amani Joy was born five weeks early in 2022. Months later, she had to undergo heart surgery and remained in the hospital after her birth. Her drive to survive became an inspiration to Ward.

We send Charvarius and Monique all our love and support ❤️💛#IGYB pic.twitter.com/5umxvMJcnR

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 29, 2024

“She showed us true strength and bravery,” he wrote. “She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up any room with her smile. The privilege of being their parents and seeing the world through their 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.”

Amani Joy, who would have turned 2 in mid-November, was born when the 49ers were playing in Colorado. Ward rushed home to Memphis, Tennessee, for her birth. Soon after, she was hooked up to tubes and taken to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she stayed for two weeks.

“I feel like my baby has already given me more heart – more love in my heart, more love in my body,” he said after the 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals, shortly after Amani Joy returned home from the hospital had gone. “Not just for her, but for other people too.”

The 49ers have a bye starting this afternoon and won't get back together until Monday. Ward, one of the team's starting cornerbacks, is coming off perhaps his best two games of the season.

The 49ers released a statement saying, “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique and send them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Required reading

(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)