Charvarius Wardand his family are grieving after a devastating loss.

The NFL player said he is “broken” after his daughter Amani Joy died Oct. 28 less than three weeks before turning 2.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” the San Francisco 49ers cornerback wrote in an Oct. 29 Instagram post alongside a photo of Amani smiling. “She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery.”

Charvarius—who shared the 23-month-old with girlfriend Monique Cook—went on to reflect on how his daughter was a positive force in his life.

“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile,” he continued. “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.”

While he didn’t share insight into her cause of death, Charvarius, 28, has previously explained that Amani—who was born prematurely and with Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome—had heart issues early on in life, even getting surgery due to being born with two holes in her heart.

“The doctor was like, 'If the holes close up, she's good,'” he shared on a December 2023 episode of the Third and Longpodcast. “One of them closed and the other kept expanding and getting bigger, to the size of a fist. They were like, ‘We have to do the surgery ASAP.’”

Following the successful surgery, Amani became what Charvarius described as “the happiest kid I’ve ever been around.”

“Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could’ve asked for,” the football player wrote in a March 21 Instagram post celebrating World Down Syndrome Day. “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realize it is just a gift from God.”

“Amani is filled with pure joy & a contagious laugh,” he continued. “My baby makes me smile from ear to ear every time I see her. November 17, 2022 a star was born. We love you AMANI JOY.”

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