Vanessa Bryant shared a touching tribute in honor of late husband Kobe Bryant on what would have been the NBA legend's 43rd birthday.
“Happy birthday, Papi,” she captioned a sweet photo of the two sharing a passionate kiss via Instagram on Monday, August 23. “Te Amo por siempre. Amor Eterno. ❤️💔 43.” (Translated into English: “I love you forever. Eternal love.")
Her followers and famous pals showered the emotional post with heart emojis.
Along with seven others, the former Los Angeles Laker and the couple's daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, 13, were killed when their helicopter crashed into a Calabasas, Calif. hillside on January 26, 2020.
Vanessa — who has admittedly struggled with staying positive while raising their remaining three daughters, Natalia, 18, Bianka, 4, and Capri, 2 — recently shared her emotional experience dropping her eldest daughter off for college.
“Today was rough. (This was before the tears came down),” she captioned a snap of her with her beautiful little ones all sporting University of Southern California gear. “Missing ✌🏽forever. I love you @nataliabryant BE EPIC and FIGHT ON. ❤️💛.”
Natalia commented on the sweet post, saying, “I love you!!!.”
Vanessa's followers praised her for her strength and for being a wonderful single mom through these hard times.
“You’re amazing in every way. Amazing mom, amazing person❤️,” WWE superstar Natalya Neidhart commented, while actress Gabrielle Union-Wade wrote: “We will all be 👀👀👀🤣 with @nataliabryant in LA #FamilyOverEverything.”
The late athlete’s wife announced their eldest daughter’s college acceptance in March alongside a video showing the then-high school senior excitedly jumping up and down after she learned the news.
"Tears of joy. I’m SO happy for you Nani! I know daddy is so PROUD OF YOU. I am so PROUD OF YOU!!,” she captioned a clip via Instagram of the milestone moment. “Your hard work and dedication was so worth it. You pushed through the most excruciating pain imaginable and you succeeded. I wish Daddy and Gigi were physically here to celebrate but I know they’re here in spirit. We love you so much! #USC #Trojan #FightOn ❤️.”
