San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward has announced the death of his one-year-old daughter, after struggling with heart problems from birth.
He posted the heartbreaking news on his Instagram page that his daughter died on Monday morning.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward wrote Tuesday 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,” he concluded.
Armani was going to turn two in November.
Ward had previously revealed that his daughter Armani was born with Down syndrome and she had two holes in her heart, one of which required surgery.
The 49ers put out a statement to support their cornerback as they were equally devastated by the tragic news.
“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh,” the team said in its statement. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”