Vanessa Bryant has admitted that she lost her daughter Gianna and husband Kobe in a tragic helicopter accident a year later ‘still doesn’t feel real’.
Heartbroken Vanessa, 38, took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that she had received a beautifully written letter from one of 13-year-old Gigi’s best friends, Aubrey, writing in the caption: ‘My Gigi is INCREDIBLE and I appreciate your thoughtful letter.
‘She loves you so much. I miss my daughter and Kob-Kob so much too. [heart emoji] I will never understand why / how this tragedy could have happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing people. It still doesn’t seem real.
It doesn’t seem real: Vanessa Bryant shared a poignant letter from her late daughter Gianna’s girlfriend when she discussed the loss of her and husband Kobe in a crash a year later (Kobe and Gianna pictured in November 2019)
‘It still doesn’t seem real. Kob, we did a good job. Gigi, you still make mama proud. I love you!’
Vanessa shared the letter about the anniversary of her daughter and husband’s death: “Today I received this sweet letter from one of Gianna’s best friends, Aubrey.
‘I love you Aubz (as my Gigi would call you). Thank you so much for wonderfully sharing some of your memories of my Gigi with me and allowing me to share them here on my ig. ‘
In her letter, Aubrey wrote about Vanessa as a mother. She wrote, “You did well, Mrs. Bryant, and we are all eternally grateful to you.”
Strength: Vanessa has kept the memory of Gigi and Kobe alive with her loving messages as she works her way through incredible grief
Love: Vanessa posted Aubrey’s letter with permission after writing that Gi had changed her life for the better
Kob, we did well: Vanessa captioned the letter post with these moving words
She added: ‘My mind is constantly thinking about your beautiful daughter. Her smile and attitude prompt me to get better. You’ve probably heard this, but if I ever become a mother, I hope my daughter turns out to be just like yours. ‘
She also wrote, ‘She cared. She knew when I was having a bad day and how to make it better. She was generous with her snacks when I forgot mine. She left notes in my notebook that I cherish. She was incredible. ‘
Aubrey also wrote, “On behalf of everyone who met her, I can say she changed our lives. Her simple actions have made us all a better person, and I believe the results will never stop. ‘
Her latest post comes a week after Vanessa shared a collection of moving photos on Tuesday to mark the 18th birthday of her eldest daughter Natalia.
On Instagram, she posted two different photos of herself with late husband Kobe and Natalia as a young child.
It comes after Vanessa bravely shared her struggles with grief leading up to the one-year anniversary of the crash that took place on January 26 in California.
Heartbreaking: Last week, Vanessa shared a collection of touching photos with late husband Kobe on Tuesday to celebrate their daughter Natalia’s 18th birthday
The throwback photos shared Tuesday saw Vanessa and Kobe affectionately posing with Natalia at the Lakers Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, in the early 2000s.
She captioned it: ‘We love you so much! Happy birthday Natalia !!!! Our firstborn @nataliabryant. ‘
While another moving click saw Kobe holding in his arms a young Natalia, who Vanessa wrote, ‘Daddy’s little princess, Natalia. ❤️ # 18 #BirthdayGirl. ‘
Vanessa also recently shared a sweet photo of Natalia, noting how proud she is of her daughter after the ‘most difficult year of our lives’.
‘Daddy’s Little Princess’: On Instagram, she also posted a sweet photo of Kobe with a young Natalia in his arms, which she captioned:’ Daddy’s little princess, Natalia. ❤️ # 18 #BirthdayGirl. ‘
She wrote: ‘Dear Natalia, Happy Birthday! Mom and Dad are so proud of the young lady you are. You showed so much strength and grace during the most difficult year of our lives.
“Thank you for coming in to help me with your little sisters. You are such an incredible big sister and a wonderful role model to so many people. Thank you for being kind, courteous, and courteous in all that you do.
“You have no idea how happy and proud Mom and Dad are that you are our daughter. We love you always and always, forever and always.
Happy 18th birthday to our firstborn, Natalia, our principessa! Always sweet, mom, dad, Gigi, BB and Koko❤️. ‘
Proud: Vanessa also recently shared a photo of Natalia as she remarked how proud she is of her daughter after the ‘most difficult year of our lives’
Tragic: It comes after Vanessa bravely shared her struggles with grief ahead of the anniversary of the loss of Kobe and their other daughter Gianna, both of whom tragically died in a January 26 helicopter crash in California last year (pictured together in 2016)
It comes after Vanessa courageously shared her struggles with grief ahead of the anniversary of the loss of Kobe and their other daughter Gianna, both of whom tragically died in a January 26 helicopter crash in California last year.
Let me be real – grief is a confused cluster of emotions. One day you laugh in the moment and the next day you don’t feel like living. ‘
She continued: ‘I want to say this for people struggling with grief and heartbreaking loss. Find your reason for living. I know it is difficult.
‘I look at my daughters and try to convey that feeling for them. Death is guaranteed, but the rest of the day is not alive. Find your reason. ‘
Emotional: ‘Let me be real – grief is a confused cluster of emotions,’ Vanessa wrote in an Instagram story last week
The post came after Vanessa had spent her first Christmas since the death of her husband and daughter
At the time she was posted a moving message on Instagram, writing, ‘Always Together, Never Apart Together Forever In Our Hearts’ alongside a moving photo of her family.
Vanessa also shared a black and white family portrait with daughters Natalia, Bianka, four and 19 month old Capri, posing on a sofa.
Prior to his tragic death, Kobe Vanessa had called his ‘queen’ and their daughters ‘princesses’ in a poignant Instagram post celebrating 20 years since they first met in November 2019.
Disturbingly, the post came after Vanessa spent her first Christmas since the death of her husband and daughter (photo in 2018)
He wrote: ‘On this day 20 years ago I met my best friend, my queen @vanessabryant. I decided to take her on a date to Disneyland tonight to celebrate the old-world style (pre-4 princesses). I love you my mamacita per semper. ‘
Kobe adored his family, and in a previous post after he retired in 2016, he wrote, “I’m so excited to see what God has in store for us as a family as a chapter closes and new ones open.”
Kobe met Vanessa in 1999 when she was 17 and worked as a background model on a music video. The couple became engaged six months later and married in 2001.
They welcomed daughters Natalia in 2003, Gianna in 2006, Bianka in 2016 and Capri in 2019.
Kobe and daughter Gianna, an avid basketball player herself, were on their way to the Mamba Academy to practice basketball when their helicopter crashed around 10:00 AM. The seven other people on board were also tragically killed.
The pilot – locally called Ara Zobayan – was trying to change the plane when it crashed into the hills of Las Virgenes Canyon, home to celebrities, including the Kardashians.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Kerry, and their daughter Alyssa were also among the dead.
So Sad: Prior to his tragic death, Kobe Vanessa had called his ‘queen’ and their daughters ‘princesses’ in a touching Instagram post celebrating 20 years since they first met in November 2019