Prayers Come In For Vanessa Bryant While She Opens Up About Facing Husband And Daughter's Deaths

Feb 13, 2020 by apost team

The wife of late basketball player Kobe Bryant and mother of their 13-year-old daughter Gianna, Vanessa Bryant, is going through a public mourning period. Her family members both died in a helicopter crash on January 26 while they flew over Calabasas, California. Since the tragic incident, fans have been supporting her and her three daughters with kind words and prayers.

Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, were in a helicopter that crashed in the California hills in late January, reports the AP. Even in retirement, Kobe was a huge basketball fan and supported his daughter's burgeoning basketball career as she played at his Black Mamba Academy. The two were with 7 other people in the helicopter while the 2 were coming back from a game.

apost.com

They were survived by daughters/sisters Bianka, Capri, Natalia, and wife/mother Vanessa Bryant. A few days after the crash, Vanessa posted an Instagram voicing her sorrow and anger. She was also very grateful for the "millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time."

The post went on to say:

"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."

Vanessa returned to Instagram some days later with a video post about her daughter Gianna. It reads:

"I’ve been reluctant to put my feelings into words. My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone," she writes. "I can’t process both at the same time. It’s like I’m trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong. Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn’t being able to have that opportunity?! I’m so mad."

It is a devastating loss to lose both a husband and daughter in the same moment, but Vanessa appreciates the thoughts and prayers that have been coming to her, and acknowledges her blessings in having her three daughters.

Vanessa also posted a loving illustration done by a Japanese artist of her smiling daughter Gianna. She was thankful for the wonderful drawing and expressed how much it meant to her.

"Seeing my babygirl smile and happy again with a basketball 🏀 under her arm, wrapped in 💜💛love just warmed my heart."

Rest in peace to Kobe and Gianna. Please send your prayers to Vanessa and her three daughters as they go through this horrific time, the outpouring of love means a lot to them all.