The world is still mourning the loss of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gigi in a tragic helicopter accident that took the lives of nine people, but nobody’s grief can be more profound than Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant.
Kobe initially began using helicopters as a means of travel when he decided he wanted to be able to spend more time with his family.
“I was sitting in traffic and I wound up missing like a school play,” he said . “I had to figure out a way where I could still train and focus on the craft but still not compromise family time.”
“So that’s when I looked into helicopters, to be able to get down and back in 15 minutes and that’s when it started.”
Kobe and his family were well-known for travelling via helicopter around Los Angeles, and reportedly flew frequently with pilot Ara Zobayan, who also perished in the crash.
Kobe and Vanessa had been married for 19 years.
The two had four children together, including Gigi, 13, Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months.
Many messages of condolences and tributes to Kobe and Gigi have mentioned sending love and strength to Vanessa during this tragedy.
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Vanessa Bryant had set her Instagram page to private following the accident.
However, she recently made her page public again, and although she initially didn’t make a post about the tragedy, she did make one heartbreaking change to her page.
Vanessa updated her icon to this beautiful photograph of Kobe and Gigi.
The shot shows the two embracing while wearing matching red jerseys. Underneath Kobe’s arm is a basketball.
Gigi was an accomplished basketball player in her own right, and was part of a team that Kobe was coaching.
The shot is a beautiful tribute to her husband and daughter.
While her page has been made public again, Vanessa’s privacy should still be respected during this incredibly difficult time.
Afterwards, Vanessa broke her silence on the tragedy by sharing an emotional post.
“My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time,” Vanessa wrote.
“Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them.”
“We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.”
“We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”
“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives.”
“I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”
“I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way.”
“Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable.”
“I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.,” Vanessa wrote. “Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality,” she wrote.
Many celebrities have paid tribute to the legend, but friend of the couple Jennifer Lopez addresed Vanessa in her Instagram post.
“We are all feeling sadness from this loss, but all I can think of is that it is a grain of sand compared to what Vanessa must going through right now,” Jennifer wrote .
“The most unfair thing in life is to lose a child and husband on the same day.”
“Vanessa, I pray for your strength and that God guides you each step of the way through this unimaginable heartbreak,” she wrote.
“To the other families who are suffering from this unthinkable tragedy, may God be with you all.”
Our thoughts are with the Bryant family in the wake of this tragedy.
