Vanessa Bryant writes heartwarming birthday message to late husband, Kobe Bryant

Today would have been Kobe Bryant's 42nd birthday.

Aug 23, 2020

Today would have been Kobe Bryant‘s 42nd birthday and fans, sports teams, and fellow athletes are using social media to send birthday wishes to the late basketball legend.

But, the lengthy and emotional post from Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, is perhaps the most touching message of all.

“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 your fav food or a birthday cake with my Gigi. I miss your big hugs, your kisses, your smile, your loud ass deep laugh. 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,” said Vanessa in a post.

In the post Vanessa continued thanking her husband for preparing her for life’s hardships, teaching her how to be strong and how to see the best in people while cutting through the B.S. She also spoke of wanting to break down but needing to stay strong in order to help their daughters cope with the loss of a parent.

She went on to say that losing Kobe and Gigi felt like a horrible nightmare and that she wished she could bring him and their daughter back home. She ended the birthday message with: “I love you now, forever, and always.”

https://twitter.com/nikebasketball/status/1297535413846859779?s=20

The Lakers, the only professional team that Bryant played for, honored the NBA icon by posting a poignant new Nike ad narrated by Kendrick Lamar.

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gigi and seven other passengers were killed in the Los Angeles area in January 2020 after their helicopter crashed.

As previously reported by theGrio, earlier this month, officials in Orange County declared August 24, the day after Kobe Bryant’s birthday, “Kobe Bryant Day.” Bryant wore the numbers 8 and 24 during his basketball career, which was why the board selected the date 8/24 to commemorate him, according to Orange County Board Chairwoman Michelle Steele.

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