Teen Mom star Amber Portwood and her family are suffering a great loss this week, as her dad, Shawn Portwood Sr., passed away on Tuesday evening.

The news of her father’s death comes just hours after it was revealed he had been placed in a medically-induced coma.

Shortly after the news broke, the mother-of-one tweeted the following message:

The 24-year-old’s brother, Shawn Portwood Jr., confirmed their father’s death to The Daily Mail late Wednesday: “My dad passed away last night. 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.”

Upon hearing of his deteriorating health, the reality star — who’s mom to six-year-old daughter Leah — flew down to Florida to be by his side.

RELATED STORY: ‘Teen Mom’ Star Amber Portwood Father’s Hospitalized

As Shawn Jr. explains, their father played a pivotal role in helping Amber get her life together and maintain her sobriety after she was released from prison last year.

Shawn continued, “My dad was the most important person in Amber’s and my life. 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. I like to think that he was able to see my son, Eli, for the last time before he died. He lived through pain for many years but it didn’t prevent him from sticking it through all the way to the end.”

shawn portwood jr. and sr.

Shawn Portwood Jr. and his father, Shawn. Photo courtesy of Give Forward.

The 27-year-old says his sister is completely devastated and could barely speak when he broke the news to her.

“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,’ he said.

“He was a great man and he deserves to be remembered in the best way. He was our heart and soul and is deeply missed by everyone who knew him. I never thought I was capable of feeling the way I do now after losing my father and a million tears will not take this pain away from me, Amber, and the rest of his family.”

Our thoughts are with the Portwood family during this difficult time.

Have a tip? Send it to us! Email In Touch at contact@intouchweekly.com.