On Oct. 29, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward took to Instagram to share only his second post.
The heartbreaking statement included a picture of his 23-month-old daughter Amani Joy. According to Ward, Amani passed away the morning on Oct. 28.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward wrote.
“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.”
Ward continued, saying Amani showed her family “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,” he wrote.
“She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
On his Instagram story, he wrote, “I’m broken.”
The only other post on Ward’s Instagram page also celebrated Amani.
The post was published on March 21, World Down Syndrome Day. And again, Ward spoke of the blessing Amani was.
“Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could’ve asked for. I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realize it is just a gift from God,” he wrote at the time.
“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience (and) how to surrender (and) let things be. We couldn’t control whether she had Trisomy 21 but we can control our attitude about it,” Ward explained.
Ward explained how their “feelings of sadness and anger” immediately “transformed into pure joy as soon as we laid eyes on her.”
“She went from heart surgery to the happiest kid I’ve ever been around. Amani is filled with pure joy (and) a contagious laugh,” the proud father wrote. “My baby makes me smile from ear to ear every time I see her.”
Amani’s second birthday will be Nov. 17.