As fans across the world posted highlights, quotes and other moments of Kobe Bryant’s life online, his widow Vanessa Bryant shared a personal letter about their daughter, who also died in a helicopter crash a year ago Tuesday.
The NBA legend, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others boarded a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, on Jan. 26, 2020, headed to a youth basketball tournament. They all perished before arriving at the game, shocking the millions of fans who had followed Bryant’s career.
Those closest to Bryant and the other families affected by the tragic incident would forever have questions on why and how the aircraft failed them as they took a ride in the foggy skies atop Calabasas that Sunday morning. Vanessa Bryant on Tuesday morning openly shared her questions about losing her husband and daughter along with sharing the heartfelt letter from a friend of Gigi’s.
In the letter, Gigi’s friend, identified as Aubrey, recalled how the budding basketball star encouraged her to pursue basketball four years earlier and how her intense, fiery spirit inspired others.
“Gianna was fiery and stubborn, she knew what she wanted and she fought to get it, " the letter read. “...Yet she cared. she knew when I was having a bad day, and knew just how to make it better. She was generous with her snacks when I forgot mine. She left me notes in my notebook that I cherish. She was incredible.”
Bryant shared her gratitude for Aubrey’s letter and some of the troubling feelings she still has in accepting that she lost her daughter and husband.
“My Gigi is INCREDIBLE and I truly appreciate your thoughtful letter. She loves you so much,” she wrote in the Instagram post. “I miss my baby girl and Kob-Kob so much, too. ♥️I will never understand why/how this tragedy could’ve happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing human beings. It still doesn’t seem real. Kob, we did it right. Gigi, you still make mommy proud. I love you!
Several people supported her in her mourning Tuesday by echoing her sentiments and sharing their grief.
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