Lamar Odom's health is said to be improving. The former NBA star has been taken off his dialysis and is no longer in need of a kidney transplant, a source told Us Weekly. It was reported last month that Odom was suffering from kidney failure and that he went on dialysis for six hours a day. It was also reported that he needed a kidney transplant.
Doctors are still closely monitoring Odom's health as he reportedly underwent emergency surgery said to be connected to pneumonia on Oct. 21.
"It's two steps forward, then a step back, but it does feel like some progress is being made, little by little," said a source to People. "The pneumonia was a huge setback, and now there's worry about permanent scarring of the lungs."
As it was reported that the former athlete suffered multiple strokes, Odom is said to be undergoing physical therapy at the therapy floor of Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles and that he has a team of therapists and specialists working with him to help him walk again. The source with Us Weekly said that Odom's motor skills are impaired because of the strokes, but the father of two is said to be determined to regain muscle function.
Meanwhile, the source from People said that because of the strokes, Odom is "responsive, but very slow."
"He can carry out simple instructions, but it takes some time for him to do it," said the insider. The source added that since Odom injured his body with his accidental overdose at a Nevada brothel last month, it will take some time to figure out how well he can come back.
"But everyone knows that he'll never be the same as he was before this happened," said the source.
Odom was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel on Oct. 13, where he was said to have overdosed on cocaine and other drugs. He was in a coma for four days.
