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Lamar Odom is making his comeback on Season 6 of The Kardashians. Upcoming episodes of the show indicate that the former NBA player will reunite with Khloé Kardashian on-screen, marking a significant moment nearly eight years after their divorce was finalized in December 2016.
Odom’s life has been a rollercoaster of challenges, but one of the most profound tragedies occurred long before his rise to reality television fame. In 2006, he faced the heartbreaking loss of his infant son, Jayden. Here’s a closer look at the circumstances surrounding Jayden’s death and its lasting impact on Odom.
What Happened to Lamar Odom’s Son?
Jayden passed away due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is defined as “the unexplained death of a baby,” as noted by the Mayo Clinic. This tragic condition typically affects infants under the age of one, usually during sleep, and the exact cause remains unknown.
At the time of his son’s death, Odom was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, although it wasn’t the basketball season. A spokesperson for the team expressed the depth of Odom’s sorrow, stating, “Lamar is very distraught,” and emphasized the couple’s request for privacy during this difficult time, as reported by ESPN.
In a 2017 interview, Odom opened up about the traumatic night of his son’s passing. He revealed that he was out socializing when he received the devastating news. “He was at home in his crib. I should’ve been at home with him. But I was out, doing whatever,” he recounted. Odom described the frantic call he received from Jayden’s mother, who was in a panic, revealing that their son wasn’t waking up.
Rushing to the hospital, Odom faced the crushing reality when doctors informed him that Jayden had passed away. “I [had] just seen him. Gone? How the f**k is that even possible?” he recalled in disbelief.
During his participation in Celebrity Big Brother in 2022, Odom shared with his fellow contestants that the loss is a burden he feels he may never fully recover from, although he finds solace in dreams of his son. “There’s just something I don’t think I’d ever get over. But him coming to me in a dream lets me know that he’s not too far away,” he reflected.
Who Was Jayden’s Mother?
Jayden’s mother is Liza Morales, who was Odom’s longtime girlfriend. Their relationship dates back to their high school days in Queens, New York, where they began dating in 1996. While they never married, they endured significant trials together, especially following the loss of their son.
Morales was the one who found Jayden unresponsive in his crib. After briefly checking on him in the morning, assuming he was asleep, she felt an overwhelming sense of panic and rushed back upstairs only to discover that he was not breathing. Odom witnessed the profound pain in Morales’s face at the hospital, a moment that remains etched in his memory.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Morales battled with anxiety and depression, feelings that she described as exacerbated by Jayden’s death. This grief contributed to the unraveling of her relationship with Odom, who turned to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. Morales candidly stated, “I realized I lost Lamar when our son Jayden passed away,” reflecting on how their distinct ways of grieving pulled them apart.
Odom acknowledged that his struggles with addiction became more pronounced following the traumatic loss, explaining, “You don’t even know why you’re doing it at that point. I think subconsciously, you make yourself an addict because of the trauma that you’re going through.”
Years later, Morales discussed her relationship with Odom, emphasizing that their experiences, especially his near-fatal overdose in 2015, prompted her to develop empathy and forgiveness towards him as they navigated co-parenting.
Does Lamar Odom Have Other Children?
Jayden was the youngest child of Lamar Odom and Liza Morales. The couple also has a daughter, Destiny, born in August 1998, and their son, Lamar Jr., born in 2002. Odom and Khloé Kardashian do not share any children together.
The Kardashians, Season 6 Premiere, Thursday, February 6, 12a ET/9p PT, Hulu
Source
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