Premiere/Rocstar/Galo/FAMEFLYNET/Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic Lamar Odom remains in critical condition after being found unconscious in a Nevada brothel on Tuesday, but his family is not giving up on him.
In a statement obtained by E! News, the basketball players' maternal aunt, JaNean Mercer (his late mother's sister), continues to ask for your prayers in his recovery.
"No words can express the overwhelming gratitude we feel for the outpouring of support from around the world," she says. "Please continue to keep in your prayers, our family and Lamar, whom we deeply love, admire and cherish."
Mercer adds that they still hold hope for improvement. "His complete healing is paramount and our primary focus. Please respect our privacy as we continue to lean on GOD and trust inHim during this extremely difficult time."
At this time, however, E! News can confirm that while Odom's condition has not worsened, it also hasn't improved either.
According to a hospital source, the NBA player remains in a coma and still has a breathing tube ventilating his lungs while a feeding tube is supplying him nutrients. Doctors have been pumping the athlete via IV with clot-busting medication to prevent further strokes.
"He hasn't suffered any more strokes," a source tells us, adding that his brain swelling hasn't worsened. "But he's not getting better and that has everyone worried."
Doctors have told Odom's friends and family that the longer he remains unresponsive, the less likely he may have normal brain function if and when he wakes up. Since he suffered multiple strokes, he could have severe physical and mental impairment, including inability or trouble to speak, walk and swallow. If his coma persists, he will have to be transferred to another facility that provides special rehabilitative care.
All of Odom's medical decisions will weigh heavily upon Khloe Kardashian, who is still legally married to the basketball player and thus remains his next of kin.
The 31-year-old reality star has not left his bedside since he was admitted to the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center earlier this week. While Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner visited the hospital to support her the last few days, they have since returned to Los Angeles.
Many of his other friends and family have taken to social media to show their support for Odom, but Khloe has remained publicly silent. Behind the scenes, however, she's paid for Lamar's father, Joe Odom, and Lamar's kids, Destiny Odom and Lamar Odom Jr., to fly into town to be by his side.
A source admits that it's "heartbreaking" to see Lamar looking "so helpless," but the family hasn't lost hope. "It's nonstop praying," the source tells E! News.
Although Khloe cut off all communication with Odom—the man she once called her "soul mate"—this summer, she's remained "completely inconsolable" since his hospitalization on Tuesday and has yet to leave his side.
For more on what doctors are saying now about Odom's condition, tune into E! News at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.