Lamar Odom Celebrates Birthday In Hospital

Nearly a month after Lamar Odom was found unconscious and unresponsive in a rural Nevada brothel, he celebrated his 36th birthday in a hospital room. WebProNews reports that the ex-Laker rung in his 36th year on Friday with his wife, Khloe Kardashian, and some other close friends and family. Lamar is still recuperating at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following his drug-overdose induced injuries. It is suspected he was under the influence of cocaine as well as unregulated “herbal Viagra” when he collapsed.

None of those who attended Lamar Odom’s low-key birthday celebration were those that he hung out with when he was known to be using drugs, according to reports.

Lamar Odom spent several days in a medically-induced coma following his collapse at the Love Ranch, and there was widespread worry that he would never wake up. When he did finally come to, it was following several reported strokes and extensive organ damage. Reportedly, the former professional athlete and reality TV star suffered severe damage to his lungs and enough damage to his kidneys that he’s now on dialysis. Those closest to Lamar Odom have leaked that he will require a kidney transplant when he’s strong enough to tolerate the procedure.

It’s also been reported that Odom suffered brain damage to still-unknown extent, which has impacted his mobility and ability to communicate.

While his 36th birthday party may have been the lowest-key birthday party of Lamar Odom’s adult life, it may be the one he should be most grateful for. Only a month ago, there was a lot of speculation that he would never regain consciousness. When his then-estranged wife, Khloe, rushed to Lamar Odom’s bedside in October, many speculated that it was to say her good-byes. Despite the initial grim prognosis, Odom lived to celebrate another birthday surrounded by his loved ones.

Despite the joyful Friday hospital birthday celebration and his continued recovery, Lamar Odom is far from out of the woods. In addition to needing months (or more) of rehabilitation, the former professional athlete is also facing potential legal trouble in the not-so-distant future. Because cocaine was reportedly found in his system when he was discovered unconscious at the Love Ranch, local Nevada authorities are considering felony legal charges against him.

This means that this next year, marked by the hospital celebration of Lamar Odom’s 36th birthday, might be the most difficult of his life. Especially considering that while Lamar Odom’s estranged wife rushed to his side when he was found near death, and even though she called off the couple’s nearly-final divorce, Khloe Kardahian has no intention to reconcile with Lamar Odom. Rather, she told the media that she pulled the plug on their divorce in order to retain her standing as his legally recognized medical decision maker.

She has promised to help him in any way she can, but is in a relationship with someone else. Despite repeatedly declaring her never-ending love for Lamar Odom, Khloe clearly decided that him being found unconscious in a brothel was more than enough of an excuse to keep their split official.

Lamar Odom wasn’t the only one in his extended family that celebrated a birthday on Friday. His estranged mother-in-law, Kris Jenner, celebrated her 60th birthday in a $2 million bash later the same night. Her festivities were reportedly extravagant, and a far cry from the humble hospital party enjoyed by Odom. Kris has had a fairly traumatic year herself, with her ex-husband Bruce Jenner publicly coming out as transgender and transitioning to a woman for all the world to see. Now known as Caitlyn Jenner, one can only wonder if the use of the letter “c” in her first name is a direct dig at the Kardashian clan?

Regardless of the rest of the family drama, according to all reports, Lamar had a good 36th birthday surrounded by loved ones. Despite being low-key, one can imagine it was among the best of his life simply because Lamar Odom was still alive to celebrate.

[Photo Courtesy of Victor Decolongon/Getty Images]