It's been such a heartbreaking week, as we continue to get new information regarding the helicopter crash that killed basketball and Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant as well as his daughter Gianna and the 7 others who were with them.
The families involved in the crash were traveling to Kobe's Mamba Academy where Gianna, known as Gigi, played basketball. There were teammates of Gigi's also on board the helicopter when it crashed.
In an absolutely beautiful tribute to Kobe and Gigi, SportsCenter anchor, Elle Duncan talked about her brief time she spent with Kobe when she was pregnant with her daughter - and how he gushed over being a 'girl dad' and how she was so lucky to be welcoming a baby girl.
Watch her tribute:
As it turns out, people around the world were inspired by Elle's tribute and decided to start sharing their own #GirlDad stories. It's so beautiful to read through the stories and hear from daughters and dads alike about their special bonds and what makes them such great Girl Dads, as Kobe so clearly was.
Elle started the thread, asking for "proud dads" to share photos of them "and their flock" because she needs it as much as anyone right now - the result is beautiful and all the sweet photos and stories will bring you to tears:
In one particularly emotional post, a dad shared that he is technically the daughter's "step dad" but shared the sweetest photo from when he married her mom and she was crying. She assured him the tears were happy tears, not sad.
Another one shows dad and actor Scott Van Pelt and his daughter on her first day of school when she got nervous.
And some fathers-to-be were sharing there excitement about expecting a baby girl:
It's so sweet seeing these stories, and if you have a couple minutes today I definitely suggest going through that thread, and even adding your own #GirlDad story.
Thinking of those girls and their dads (and the rest of their families, of course) who passed in the helicopter crash on Sunday. So much love going out to their friends and family.
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Photo: Getty Images