Vanessa Bryant spoke out for the first time since the death of her husband, Kobe, and daughter, Gianna, on Sunday. She said her family is "completely devastated," but thanks everyone for the overwhelming outpour of support in this "horrific time."
She also announced that a fund has been established for the other families who were affected by the crash.
"There aren't enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gig both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon."
Kobe and Gianna, only 13 years old, were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday in Calabasas, California. They were among seven other victims in the crash, which is still undergoing investigation.
Kobe and Vanessa had been married since 2001, and were together since she was eighteen years old. They had four daughters together, Natalia, 17, Gianna, 13, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months.
Kobe and Gianna were on their way to a youth basketball game before the helicopter crashed. Gianna was a promising basketball star who was following in her father's footsteps. She played at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy under his coaching.
Other victims included pilot Ara Zobayan, Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa, Sarah Chester and daughter Payton, and Bryant's assistant coach Christina Mauser.
"We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately," Vanessa Bryant wrote.
We are devastated and have been forever changed by the sudden loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. We send our love to Vanessa, the Bryant family, and to the families of the other passengers.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 30, 2020