Lamar Odom reached a positive turning point in his health crisis Friday, Kris Jenner confirmed.
Hours after multiple media outlets reported that the former NBA player and E! reality star had awoken from a coma and is breathing on his own, the Kardashian matriarch told “Access Hollywood” that doctors are trying to wean Lamar off of the ventilator and he is now on a breathing mask.
Although he went back to sleep, he is no longer in a coma. And despite the signs of improvement, Jenner said Odom remains in very, very critical condition and the damage to his vital organs is serious.
The crisis began when former Los Angeles Lakers star, also famous for appearing on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and spinoff “Khloe and Lamar,” was discovered unconscious at the Love Ranch brothel in Nevada on Tuesday. He had checked in three days earlier, and spent $75,000 to party with two women. After being transported to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Odom remained unresponsive and in critical condition until Friday morning.
Read five more of the latest developments below.
Odom Can Communicate:
After reportedly opening his eyes on Friday morning, the former Lakers star appeared to be responsive to other people and voices in the room. Entertainment Tonight also reported that Odom was strong enough to ask to see his children.
According to CNN, he also greeted Khloe Kardashian, his estranged wife who filed for divorce from Odom in 2013 after marrying him in 2009.
USA Today spoke to Odom’s former college basketball coach, who said he witnessed the moment.
“She reached down and said ‘you know I love you’ and he kind of nodded,” Jim Harrick said. “Three or four days after being scared to death and fearing the worst, that is a little hope, a little progress. She texted me that (information).”
The Kardashians Put Their Mobile App Business Aside to Focus on Odom’s Health:
Khloe Kardashian, Odom’s estranged wife, issued a statement on her website Thursday night regarding her ailing husband.
“As a family, we’ve decided to hold off on publishing content across our apps while we continue to support and pray for Lamar,” reads the statement, which was issued in conjunction with sisters Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner. “Thank you for your kindness and understanding during this difficult time.”
The “Keeping up With the Kardashians” star reportedly remained at her husband’s bedside Thursday, though the network denied reports that the show was still filming from inside the hospital.
Brothel Owner Revealed Odom Paid $75,000 for Services:
Dennis Hof, the owner of the brothel where Odom was discovered, appeared on Wendy Williams‘ talk show via Skype on Thursday and revealed that the former NBA star dropped $75,000 for his stay.
Odom paid the bill up front when he checked in on Saturday, with the intention of staying at least five nights — and possibly up to 10 — while being entertained by multiple girls.
“It happened that Lamar wanted a long period of time [with prostitutes Ryder Cherry and Monica Monroe],” Hof said. “He gave the girls $75,000, but he planned on being there a long time — at least five days.”
Odom Was Using Cocaine, Sexual Performance Enhancers at Brothel:
During a press conference on Wednesday, Nye County Sheriff Sharon A. Wehrly said that Odom had used cocaine and sexual performance enhancing drugs the weekend prior to his hospitalization.
Two employees at the Love Ranch brothel in Crystal, Nevada, called 911 when he was found unconscious. They reported that Odom had been using cocaine on Saturday and had taken “up to 10” tablets of herbal sexual enhancement supplements.
Master P Called Out Kobe Bryant, and Lakers Star Called Out Our ‘Culture’
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was playing a game at the the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at the time of the former Laker’s hospitalization, and is said to have stopped to pay Odom a bedside visit.
But rapper Master P expressed doubts, and called Bryant’s concerns “phony.”
“If Kobe was his friend, Kobe like, owned the team. He could’ve got the man back on the team, that’s all he wanted,” the rapper told TMZ.
Bryant released a statement that appeared to be a response to Master P, but did not drop any names.
“When WE feel the need to question the support of others in moments as critical as a life hanging in the balance, then we must question the kind of culture we have created that has led US to such insensitive suspicion,” Bryant responded on Twitter, along with the hashtag #justpray.