Tragic news spread through the NFL community when San Francisco 49ers CB Charvarius Ward said that his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy Ward, had died. Charvarius shared a touching tribute to his late daughter on October 28, 2024. In it, he showed off her beautiful smile and contagious laughing.
Charvarius wrote an emotional post on Instagram about how devastated he was. He called Amani “the greatest blessing” he and his partner, Monique, could have ever hoped for. He praised her bravery, strength, and love of life, which made him more patient and hopeful towards the world.
Amani’s parents started Charvarius for Change as a non-profit in 2021. Through their work, they continue to share love, hope, and knowledge. Charvarius thought about the important things he had learnt from being Amani’s father, such as how to be patient and accept others.
In March 2024, in honour of World Down Syndrome Day, Charvarius shared touching pictures and videos of Amani that showed how happy and strong she was. He talked freely about his initial fears and how he came to accept her diagnosis, calling it a “gift from God.”
Charvarius and Monique have been shown a lot of love and support by both the 49ers organisation and fans during this tough time. Amani’s parents made her an Instagram account that shows off her happy spirit by documenting the important events in her life.
It hurts the NFL community a lot to hear Charvarius say, “Amani Joy, you will always be loved and missed.” As Charvarius, Monique, and their loved ones deal with this terrible loss, we send our heartfelt condolences.
