Teen Mom star Amber Portwood's father, Shawn Portwood, Sr., tragically passed away at the age of 50 on Tuesday, Dec. 16, his son, Shawn, Jr. tells the Daily Mail.
According to Shawn, Jr., his father suddenly died after undergoing liver surgery. "My dad passed away last night," Amber's brother told the site on Wednesday, Dec. 16. "He was 50. He was put in an induced coma on Friday after liver surgery at Orlando Regional Medical Center. We are making burial arrangements now."
Amber tweeted on Dec. 14 asking fans for their prayers. "Everyone please pray for my father he's in ICU…I appreciate it and sending love always," she wrote. The day before her father passed away, Amber tweeted: "Just to clear the record I was in Florida the morning after I found out my dad was in ICU and by his side until I left this morning."
"My dad was the most important person in Amber's and my life," Shawn, Jr. told the Daily Mail. "He was a very strong-willed person and even though he was battling illness for a very long time, he never gave up. He didn't give up on life. He didn't give up on his family. He didn't want to give up."
Portwood, Sr. was also crucial to Amber's recovery following her 17-month stint in prison Shawn, Jr. said. "When I called Amber to tell her, she didn't say a whole lot of anything. She was too busy crying. He's been sick for a while but there is no way to prepare for this," her brother explained.
Shawn, Sr. leaves behind his kids, his wife Tonya, and grandchildren Leah and Eli.
