Vanessa Bryant just took to social media to post a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, Kobe Bryant. Today would’ve been his 44th birthday, Sadly, both him and his lovely daughter passed away in a tragic helicopter crash that shook the whole world. Yet Vanessa does so much in her husband and child’s name, it is so inspiring to see. The loss felt so shocking to so many, but we know she felt it on a level very few can relate to. But rather than focus on the loss itself, she focuses on the life and legacy of her late family.
Truth is, sometimes life teaches us the cruelest lessons in the cruelest ways possible. But Vanessa Bryant is a perfect example of poise, grace, and strength personified.
Kobe Bryant would’ve turned 44 on Tuesday … and his wife, Vanessa, penned a heartfelt birthday note on Instagram, writing she loves and misses him so much. Since Kobe — who she married in April 2001 — and daughter Gigi’s untimely death, Vanessa has been honoring them in countless ways … including getting tattoos in their honor, launching the Mambacita clothing line, and taking her 3 other daughters to Italy — where Kobe was raised. “Visited Reggio Calabria,” Vanessa said in July, “a city my husband lived in when he was about 8 years old.”
Truth be told, we cannot even begin to fathom the strength of Vanessa Bryant. In the blink of an eye she lost the two things that mattered most to her. But instead of allowing it to break her, she faced it and seems to have come out stronger. People toss the word hero around a lot in society, but that is true hero stuff. And just like her, we all still think about her late hubby often.
May she continue to grow from this tragedy and inspire strength in others who go through similar things. And Happy Birthday, Kobe Bryant. You and your daughter are truly missed, but never forgotten.