Laurie Kilmartin posted this photo of her parents, with the words "55 years". Photo: Twitter @anylaurie16
Laurie Kilmartin's father is dying from lung cancer.
And the US comedian is live-tweeting the last moments of his life in the only way she knows how: with love, wit and a big dose of humour.
Her account is at times hilarious, at other times heartbreaking as she gives her followers an insight into her dad's journey towards the end.
Laurie Kilmartin (left) with her father and sister. Photo: Twitter @anylaurie16
Kilmartin, an LA-based writer for the Conan O'Brien show Conan, told her Twitter followers on February 21 that her father's health had deteriorated.
"Dad now in hospice. I told Dad if he sees Chris Hitchens, inform him that women not being funny wasn't the only thing he was wrong about," she wrote.
Kilmartin – a finalist in the NBC reality television show Last Comic Standing – and her family have remained by her father's side in the hospice, with Kilmartin turning to Twitter to process her thoughts.
It appears that Dad will die as he lived, covered by horrible crocheted blankets.
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 26, 2014
For the first time, our suffer-in-silence Dad said his pain was a "10." Although that could've been because we were watching The View.
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 26, 2014
How I check that I've put Dad's hearing aids in correctly. Whisper "testing, testing, Obama is a Muslim," then look for the thumbs up.
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 26, 2014
Despite 6 rounds of chemo & 1 wk of radiation, 83 yo Dad's hair is growing back. Sorry prematurely bald guys you either got it or you dont
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 27, 2014
She posted a photograph of herself with her elderly father and sister and the caption: "Surrounding our Dad with love and sarcasm."
At other times the sadness seems to hit home.
Hard to leave Dad's side. I am drawn to him like a moth to a flame (that's about to go out)
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 26, 2014
Kilmartin also posted a photograph of her mother clasping her sick father's hand, captioned simply: "55 years".
Kilmartin began rapidly gathering followers after US comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted about her to his 1.6 million followers.
Guys, @anylaurie16 is Live Tweeting taking care of her rapidly-dying-from-terminal-cancer dad and it is epic.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 26, 2014
Some have questioned the appropriateness of Kilmartin's humour at such a sad time, including one reader who said he was trying to "figure out what's funny about ur (sic) dad dying".
Even Kilmartin has acknowledged that she is still learning. She responded to the reader on Twitter: "I'm trying to figure out what isn't."
"Guys, I'm just trying to grieve in advance, so I can relax and have fun at the funeral," she wrote.
Losing Dad, gaining followers. The Lord truly works in mysterious ways.
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 26, 2014
smh.com.au