Vanessa Bryant admitted to losing her daughter Gianna and husband Kobe in a tragic helicopter accident “still doesn’t seem real” a year later.
Heartbroken Vanessa, 38, took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that she received a beautifully written letter from one of Gigi’s 13-year-old best friends, Aubrey, and wrote the caption: ‘My Gigi is AMAZING and I really appreciate your attention. .
‘She loves you very much. I miss my little girl and Kob-Kob too. [heart emoji] I will never understand why / how this tragedy could have happened to such beautiful, gentle and incredible human beings. It still doesn’t seem real.
‘It doesn’t seem real: Vanessa Bryant shared a touching letter from her daughter’s friend Gianna as she discussed the loss of her and her husband Kobe in an accident a year later (Kobe and Gianna photographed in November 2019)
‘It still doesn’t look real. Kob, we did it right. Gigi, you still make Mom proud. I love you!’
Sharing the letter on the anniversary of the death of her daughter and husband, Vanessa wrote: ‘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 very much for beautifully sharing some of your Gigi memories with me and allowing me to share them here on my ig. ‘
In his letter, Aubrey wrote about Vanessa as a mother. She wrote, ‘You did it right, Mrs. Bryant, and we are all forever grateful to you.’
Strength: Vanessa has kept Gigi and Kobe’s memory alive with her loving posts as she navigates her way through unbelievable pain
With love: Vanessa posted Aubrey’s letter with permission after writing that Gi had changed her life for the better
Kob, we did it right: Vanessa captioned the letter post with these touching words
She added: ‘My mind constantly thinks of your beautiful daughter. Your smile and attitude make me better. You’ve probably heard that, but if I ever become a mother, I hope my daughter will be just like yours.
She also wrote: ‘She cared. She knew when I was having a bad day and she knew exactly how to make it better. She was generous with her snacks when I forgot mine. She left notes in my notebook that I appreciate very much. She was incredible. ‘
Aubrey also wrote: ‘In the name of everyone who knew her, I can say that she changed our lives. Their simple actions have made us all a better person, and I believe the results of that will never stop showing. ‘
Her latest post was published a week after Vanessa shared a collection of touching photos of the setback on Tuesday to mark her eldest daughter Natalia’s 18th birthday.
Taking to Instagram, she posted two different photos of herself with the late husband Kobe and Natalia as a child.
This happens after Vanessa courageously shared her struggle with pain before the one-year anniversary of the January 26 accident in California.
Touching: Last week, Vanessa shared a collection of touching photos with her late husband Kobe on Tuesday to mark her daughter Natalia’s 18th birthday
In the kickback photos shared on Tuesday, he saw Vanessa and Kobe pose sweetly with Natalia at the Lakers Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, in the early 2000s.
She wrote the caption: ‘We love you very much! Happy birthday Natalia !!!! Our first child, @nataliabryant. ‘
While a different touching photo saw Kobe holding a young Natalia in her arms, which Vanessa wrote: ‘Daddy’s little princess, Natalia. ❤️ # 18 #BirthdayGirl. ‘
Vanessa also recently shared a sweet photo of Natalia, while commenting on how proud she is of her daughter after the ‘hardest year of our lives’.
‘Daddy’s little princess’: on Instagram, she also posted a sweet photo of Kobe holding a young Natalia in her arms, with the caption:’ Daddy’s little princess, Natalia. ❤️ # 18 #BirthdayGirl. ‘
She wrote: ‘Dear Natalia, happy birthday! Mom and Dad are very proud of the young woman you are. You have shown so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult year of our lives.
– Thank you for intervening to help me with your little sisters. You are an amazing big sister and a beautiful model for so many people. Thank you for being kind, polite and gracious in everything you do.
– You have no idea how happy and proud Mom and Dad are that you are our daughter. We love you always and forever, forever and ever.
‘Happy 18th birthday to our eldest, Natalia, our prince! Love always, mom, dad, Gigi, BB and Koko❤️. ‘
Proud: Vanessa also recently shared a photo of Natalia when commenting on how proud she is of her daughter after the ‘hardest year of our lives’
Tragic: it happens after Vanessa courageously shared her struggle with the pain before the anniversary of losing Kobe and her other daughter Gianna, who tragically died in a helicopter accident last year on January 26 in California (photos together in 2016)
This happens after Vanessa courageously shared her struggle with the pain before the anniversary of losing Kobe and her other daughter Gianna, who tragically died in a helicopter crash last year on January 26 in California.
‘Let me be real – mourning is a confused cluster of emotions. One day you are currently laughing and the next day you have no desire to be alive. ‘
She continued: ‘I want to say this to people who struggle with pain and painful loss. Find your reason for living. I know it’s hard.
‘I look at my daughters and try to get over this feeling for them. Death is guaranteed, but not living the rest of the day. Find your reason. ‘
Emotional: ‘Let me be real – grief is a confusing set of emotions,’ Vanessa wrote in an Instagram story last week
The post came after Vanessa spent her first Christmas since the death of her husband and daughter
At the time she posted a touching message on Instagram, writing: ‘Always Together, Never Separated Together Forever In Our Hearts’ next to a touching photo of his family.
Vanessa also shared a black and white family portrait that included daughters Natalia, Bianka, four years old and Capri, 19 months old, posing on a sofa.
Before her tragic death, Kobe called Vanessa her ‘Queen’ and her daughters ‘princesses’ in a poignant Instagram post to mark 20 years since they met in November 2019.
Upset: 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 school style (pre 4 princesses). I love you my mamacita forever. ‘
Kobe loved his family and in a previous post after retiring in 2016, he wrote: ‘I am very excited to see what God has in store for us as a family now that one chapter is closing and others are opening.’
Kobe met Vanessa in 1999 when she was 17 and worked as a model on a music video. The couple became engaged six months later and married in 2001.
They welcomed their daughters Natalia in 2003, Gianna in 2006, Bianka in 2016 and Capri in 2019.
Kobe and his daughter Gianna, who also played basketball, were on their way to the Mamba Academy for basketball training when their helicopter crashed around 10 am. The other seven people on board also died tragically.
The pilot – locally called Ara Zobayan – was trying to turn the aircraft around when it crashed into the hills of Las Virgenes Gorge, home to celebrities, including the Kardashians.
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Kerry and daughter Alyssa were also among the dead.
So sad: before her tragic death, Kobe called Vanessa her “queen” and her daughters “princesses” in a poignant Instagram post to mark 20 years since they met in November 2019