The San Francisco 49ers have been left ‘really shaken’ by the departure of Charvarius ‘Mooney’ Ward’s baby daughter on Monday.
Amani Joy died just a month to her second birthday after battling heart issues since birth in 2022.
And on Wednesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke to Bay Area radio station KNBR about the tragic loss and the devastating impact it’s left on Ward and the franchise.
‘We had all kind of lived through this with Mooney… he was so excited to become a first-time dad,’ Lynch shared, via 49ers Webzone. ‘And then, they had a fear that you’re going to have a baby, it may indeed have Down syndrome. The baby was born with Down syndrome.
‘But Mooney’s attitude, his wife’s attitude, where they were going to love this little girl — and Joy was the perfect middle name because every time he saw her, she just had this giant smile, was always laughing. And Mooney, his perspective, as it does when you’re a parent, changed so much. And Mooney just had such a deep love for this young lady.
‘Our organization is just shook, really shaken for the family. Amani was at the game the night before, in the daycare that we have, and it’s just the unspeakable deal of going to bed and waking up [to losing her]. We were able to be around him, but you don’t know what to say. You just pray, you get love, and continue to be there for the Ward family.’
Amani, as Lynch touched upon, was born premature with Down syndrome and had suffered with a number of health issues throughout her life.
The tot underwent open-heart surgery on April 11, 2023 – about six months after her birth – after being born with holes in her heart.’
Ward opened up on his daughter’s condition last year on his then-teammate Ark Armstead’s podcast.
‘She was born with two holes in her heart,’ Ward told Armstead. ‘The doctor was like, ‘If the holes close up, she’s good.’ 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.
‘That was scary because it’s a real serious surgery. And it’s your kid, you just feel for her, it’s out of your hands, there’s nothing you can do about it.’
Lynch added on KNBR that the 49ers would support Ward as he takes time to grieve his loss.
The cornerback confirmed Amani’s passing in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Tuesday.
‘We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning,’ he 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.’
Ward’s girlfriend Monique Cook also posted on her Instagram story, ‘My Baby. God Why?’ she wrote with two broken heart emojis.’
