Heartfelt Remembrance from Colts Cornerback

Charvarius Ward, a cornerback for the Colts, expressed deep sorrow following the loss of his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy, last October.

In a heartfelt series of Instagram Stories, Ward shared memories of Amani on what would have been her third birthday, which was set for Monday. “Happy Birthday Amani. I haven’t been happy since you left us. God got this wrong,” the 29-year-old wrote.

In another post, Ward shared his frustrations: “Football is shit. This money is shit. All the fame is shit. None of it matters. I miss my baby. Amani, Joy, Ward XOXOXO.”

Amani, who had Down syndrome, was the daughter of Ward and his fiancée, Monique Cooke.

Ward included sad emojis in a photo that showed Amani perched on his shoulder, accompanied by cupcakes, balloons, and a candle marking her third birthday.

Ward and Cooke got engaged in July and announced last September that they were expecting a son due in February 2025.

Reflecting back, Ward shared that Amani passed away while he was still with the 49ers, a post he later deleted. At the time of her passing, he had expressed profound grief, saying, “We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning. She was the best blessing we could have hoped for… She showed us true strength and courage.”

Ward also noted how being Amani’s parent transformed their outlook on life, claiming they would always remember her as “daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl.”

In January, the Pro Bowl cornerback revealed that he was grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder following the loss of Amani. He mentioned experiencing difficult symptoms, including sleeplessness and anxiety. “It’s hard, it’s hard. But let’s see how it goes. It’s definitely going to be interesting,” he said.

Recently, Ward sustained a concussion in a game against the Colts but is eligible to return this week.

It’s poignant to remember that the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-20 to win the Super Bowl back in February 2020.