San Francisco 49ers star Charvarius Ward announces the death of his 1-year-old daughter

“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile. The privilege of being their parents and seeing the world through their eyes has changed us for the better,” he wrote. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We will miss and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

Amani Joy was born prematurely with Down syndrome and has suffered from heart problems since birth, NBC Sports reported.

The 49ers released a statement Tuesday saying, “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden death of Charvarius Ward's beloved 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.”

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to everyone around her with her sweet demeanor and infectious laugh,” the team said. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique and send them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Back in March, Ward spoke about his daughter's Down syndrome on Instagram, writing, “I used to think Down syndrome was a disability, but now I realize it's just a gift from God.”

He said becoming a father to Amani taught him patience and dedication.

“We couldn't control whether she had trisomy 21, but we can control our attitude towards it. “At first we had feelings of sadness and anger, but those feelings turned into pure joy as soon as we saw her,” he explained. “After heart surgery, she became the happiest child I have ever been with. Amani is full of pure joy and an infectious laugh. My baby makes me smile every time I see him. A star was born on November 17, 2022.”