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The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday that the team is mourning the sudden death of cornerback Charvarius Ward’s one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward posted on Instagram.
“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. 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.”
Ward told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle in February that a blood test revealed Down syndrome and an ultrasound exposed a heart defect before his daughter was born. Still, he and Monique stayed positive, and the birth of Amani created a shift in his mood as he went on to earn his first career Pro Bowl selection last season.
“It was a huge change in his mood,” Monique told Branch. “His confidence changed. He was a lot happier. He comes in every day and she lights up. She’s smiling. She hears his voice and she will literally look around like, ‘Where is this man?’
“For any father, especially when you’re like, ‘Dang we’re supposed to be best friends,’ and then to see your child light up when she sees you? I think that just sparked something in him. It gave him that motivation. Like, ‘We’re good. Life is good now. That’s all I was missing.'”
Ward, who said he used to be “one of the most stubborn people in the world,” explained that caring for Amani softened him, making him more patient and empathetic.
“It’s made my heart bigger,” Ward said. “I was never mean to my mom as a kid. But I’m nicer to my mom. I’m nicer to all the women around me. I try to treat people a little bit better. Because, obviously, she has Down syndrome. And she’s probably going to have a little mistreatment going through life with a disability. People might try to bully her a little bit. So I just want to treat people well and, hopefully, people will treat her good.”
Ward and the 49ers will be on a bye in Week 9 before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 10.
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