Los Angeles Times columnist and Guggenheim Fellowship winner Meghan Daum will join USC palliative medicine physician and writer Sunita Puri, MD, in a conversation about how humans encounter and survive serious illness.

In “Diary of a Coma,” the final essay in her masterful collection, The Unspeakable, Daum recounts her own unexpected deadly illness, resultant intensive care unit stay and recovery. “Diary of a Coma” will be used to discuss the questions that affect everyone: How do humans make sense of the unexpected events — especially serious illness — that affect individuals and loved ones? The event will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 7 in the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Resource Library, NRT G501, at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Lunch will be served. RSVP is required at (323) 442-7805 or marytaalto@gmail.com.

The first ten registered attendees to arrive will receive a free copy of The Unspeakable. A book signing with the author will follow the event.

This is a free event that is open to everyone.