Vanessa Bryant Pens A Touching Tribute To Kobe Bryant On His 42nd Birthday

August 23 would have been champion basketball player, Kobe Bryant’s 42nd birthday, but Vanessa Bryant still celebrated the day with a heartfelt post she penned for her late husband and their daughter Gianna. Both Kobe and his young daughter died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

"To my baby~ Happy birthday. I love you and miss you more than I can ever explain. I wish you and Gigi were here to celebrate YOU! I wish I could make you your fav food or a birthday cake with my Gigi. I miss your big hugs, your kisses, your smile, your loud ass deep laugh," she wrote in her Instagram post.

"I miss teasing you, making you laugh and bursting your bubble. I miss you sitting on my lap like my big baby that you are. I think about your tenderness and patience all the time. I think about everything you would do in situations to help me deal with everything thrown my way,” she added.

Vanessa confessed how she had been “empty” and “completely broken inside” ever since Kobe and their 13-year-old Gigi died in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on January 26. But despite it all, she still goes on for her daughters.

"I wish I could wake up from this horrible nightmare. I wish I could surprise our girls and welcome you and Gigi home to us. I'm mad I didn't go first. I always wanted to go first so that I selfishly didn't have to feel this heartache. You were supposed to miss me. Gigi was supposed to be here with her sisters. It should've been me,” she wrote.

She went on to thank Kobe for "loving me enough to last several lifetimes."

"I know my Gigi is celebrating you like she always has on our special days. I miss my thoughtful princess so much! Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, Capri and I wish you a happy birthday my love. I love you for now, forever and for always," she added.