Monique Cook, girlfriend of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, broke her silence on Wednesday, two days after the death of the couple’s 23-month-old daughter, Amani Joy.
“My baby. God, why ?” Cook wrote via her Instagram story.
Ward, 28, announced Amani’s death on Tuesday.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,” Ward wrote via 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.”
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“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.”
An official cause has not been released, but Ward has been open about Amani’s struggles in the past. Amani was born with Down syndrome and underwent heart surgery before she was even 1 year old, but Ward called her “the happiest kid I’ve ever been around,” in an Instagram post on World Down Syndrome Day in March.
“Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could’ve asked for,” he wrote. “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realize it is just a gift from God. Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be. We couldn’t control whether she had Trisomy 21 but we can control our attitude about it. At first we went through feelings of sadness & anger but those feelings transformed into pure joy as soon as we laid eyes on her.”
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The 49ers also released a statement on Tuesday, expressing their condolences and support for Ward and Cook.
“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,” the statement read. “Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.”
“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
Ward and Cook met in 2020 shortly after he won Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs. He signed a three-year deal with the 49ers in 2022. San Francisco is currently in its bye week and will return to the field November 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
