Lamar Odom, the former Los Angeles Lakers star, is out of rehab for cocaine addiction and touting a new lease on life.
The 37-year old former husband of Khloe Kardashian describes himself as “a walking miracle” for being alive, despite suffering a dozen strokes and two heart attacks.
In a wide-ranging interview with Us Weekly, Odom talks about how cocaine use and “multiple affairs with different women” ended his four-year marriage to Kardashian, who he says “tolerated” his use of cocaine. The famous reality TV star reportedly made a concerted effort to be supportive in her husband’s recovery, but after Odom was photographed drinking in an LA-area mall, Khloe decided to call it quits.
After Kardashian stopped tolerating his behavior—filing for divorce in 2013—Odom moved into his own apartment and his life became “all about drugs.”
In October 2015, he was found comatose in a Nevada brothel and says he suffered a dozen strokes and two heart attacks. He movingly details how Khloe would visit him in the hospital to help him regain his memory.
Odom completed a 30-day stay at Casa Palmera rehab in San Diego in January and has been working on a reality show about his recovery.
He credits his 18-year-old daughter Destiny with giving him the ultimatum to complete his recent rehab stay. “This last time I checked into rehab, I was able to stay the whole 30 days and get the most out of it. I learned about addiction and that it’s a brain disease. The choices we make when our brain is diseased are involuntary. So it was important and life-changing. My kids were really scared that their dad wasn’t going to be here.” His other child is 14-year-old Lamar Jr., who he also had with ex-wife Liza Morales.
“There is no reason to lie now,” he added. “But it was good for them to know it is a disease and one I may pass back to them.”
He also talks about how lucky he feels to be sober today, saying, “Living sober, meaning no drugs, is a great feeling. Being in the moment is important — how you react, respond, create.”