While going through 'an extremely difficult and devastating time' with the loss of her loved ones, the widow of the late NBA star is trying 'to be the strong one' for her other daughters.

• Jan 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant is undoubtedly having a difficult time dealing with the loss of her husband and their daughter Gianna. While she has remained silent in this grieving period, a source has shared an update on her condition following the family tragedy.

"It's an extremely difficult and devastating time for Vanessa and the whole family," the source tells PEOPLE of Vanessa and her three other daughters with the late NBA star, Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 7-month-old Capri.

Saying that Vanessa is "devastated," the so-called insider claims, "She can hardly keep it together. She can't finish a sentence without crying. But she is working very hard to pull it together for the other girls. She now has to be the strong one."

Noting the couple's tumultuous relationship, the source adds, "Of course, you can never be prepared for this. Despite their ups and downs, [Vanessa and Kobe] were soulmates. She thought of him as her partner for life."

Luckily, Vanessa has a strong support system. The source shares that the 37-year-old mother of four "is surrounded by people who love her and love Kobe. She has a good support system. She is relying on her faith. She is not alone. But she will be grieving this for a very long time."

Kobe and Vanessa tied the knot in 2001 when he was just 22 and she was 18. They welcomed their first child, Natalia, in 2003 and their second, Gianna, in 2006. In 2011, Vanessa filed for divorce, but they called it off in 2013. They welcomed their third daughter, Bianka, in 2016 and their fourth daughter, Capri, was born in June 2019.

Following the tragic passing of Kobe and Gianna in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday, January 26, Vanessa set her Instagram account private.

In other news, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said on Tuesday that the bodies of all nine victims in the Sunday helicopter crash have been recovered. The bodies that were discovered were removed from the crash site and transported to the department's Forensic Science Center. Investigators are currently working on identifying the victims.