Kobe Bryant's Widow Honors Her 'Eternal Love' On His Birthday As She Focuses On Family, Healing

Vanessa Bryant has honored NBA legend Kobe Bryant on his supposed 43rd birthday by posting a heartfelt message dedicated to her late husband on Instagram, vowing to love him forever, as fans around the globe paid tribute to the 18-time All-Star gone too soon.

“Happy birthday, Papi. Te Amo por siempre. Amor Eterno. 43,” Vanessa, 39, posted on Instagram on Monday, sharing a picture of the couple kissing and posing with the Larry O'Brien trophy after the "Black Mamba" won one of his five championships.

The tribute translates to, “I love you forever. Eternal love," TMZ noted.

The Bryant matriarch has remained a devoted figure following the tragic helicopter crash in January 2020, which killed Kobe and their daughter, Gianna, 13, along with seven others on board.

The group was on their way to a basketball match at their Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, where Kobe was scheduled to coach Gianna's team when the pilot, Ara Zobayan, failed to control the flight from crashing into terrain and deal with spatial disorientation.

"Lying in bed crying isn't going to change the fact that my family will never be the same again," Vanessa told the media in March. "But getting out of bed and pushing forward is going to make the day better for my girls and me. So that's what I do."

Bryant's widow is trying to live life as normal and low-key as possible for daughters Natalia, 18, Bianka, 4, and Capri, 2, nearly 19 months on from the loss of two of her loved ones, according to Page Six.

Reports say that a source has indicated that the former model decided to focus on her family and had shown no interest in dating anyone just yet.

"She is not dating anybody and likely won't for a long time. Kobe was her one and only," the insider shared. "For now, to protect her mental health and well-being, she's just been trying to lay low as much as she can."

Another source would echo the same sentiment to E! Online, noting that Vanessa's focus has always been the girls and honoring Kobe and his legacy by continuing the initiatives of the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

"There will never be anyone like Kobe. Kobe was one-of-a-kind," Vanessa shared in May. "He was special. He was humble. Off the court. But bigger than life."

The Bryant mother also sent her daughter Natalia off to the University of Southern California earlier this month, penning a heartfelt message to the 18-year-old on Instagram.

“Tears of joy. I’m SO happy for you Nani! I know daddy is so PROUD OF YOU. I am so PROUD OF YOU!! Your hard work and dedication were so worth it,” she wrote. “I wish Daddy and Gigi were physically here to celebrate but I know they’re here in spirit. We love you so much!"