Shortly after Charvarius Ward shared the unfortunate news of his one-year-old daughter’s passing, his girlfriend Monique Cook posted a heartbreaking message on her Instagram story.
The pair welcomed their daughter Armani Joy in November 2022. Armani was born premature with Down syndrome, dealt with numerous health issues, and underwent open-heart surgery in April 2023.
Armani Joy sadly passed away for undisclosed reasons on Oct. 29. Later in the day, Cook posted a tear-jerking message about their daughter’s early death.
‘My Baby. God Why?’ she wrote with two broken heart emojis.
An hour earlier, the 49ers cornerback wrote a longer message with a photo of Armani, breaking the sad news.
‘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. She showed us 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,’ Ward added. ‘She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.’
Cook and Ward started dating shortly after the 2020 Super Bowl. At the time, Ward was playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and won the title over his current team in San Francisco.
The 28-year-old is in his third season in the Bay Area and seventh in the NFL after beginning his career with the Chiefs in 2018.
Ward, raised by his mom, Tanya, with his father in prison during his childhood, had previously opened up about his joy at becoming a father.
He credited his growing bond with his bundle of joy to his improvement on the field last season, when he became a first-time Pro-Bowler.
‘It was on my conscience,’ Ward told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan last season. ‘Why can’t I connect to my daughter? This is my seed. I couldn’t connect with her at all, and it was hurting my feelings.
‘It was on my mind a lot. I’m not trying to make excuses, but ever since we got closer, I’ve been balling. Shoutout to God and my daughter for making that relationship good.’
The 49ers enter a bye week after beating the Cowboys over the weekend, allowing Ward time to spend with his mourning family. San Francisco will return to action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 10.
