Meghan Markle 'reaches out' to estranged father after his emergency leg amputation surgery: Source
LOS ANGELES, CA: Meghan Markle has reached out to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after he underwent an emergency leg amputation earlier this week. A spokesperson for the Duchess confirmed she contacted him following the sudden medical crisis.
Thomas, 81, had his left leg removed below the knee after a blood clot cut off circulation, turning the foot black. His family says the situation escalated rapidly, leaving doctors with no choice but to perform the drastic procedure.
Thomas Markle's condition is 'life-or-death,' family says
A representative for Meghan confirmed that "she has reached out to her father," following reports of his emergency surgery. Thomas Markle, the Duchess' father, had his leg amputated after a blood clot severely compromised circulation. Despite speculation, sources say claims that Meghan relied on aides to make contact were false.
According to his son, Thomas Markle Jr, the surgery took place in the Philippines, where their father currently resides. "My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly," he told the Daily Mail, describing how medical teams conducted scans and determined immediate amputation was necessary.
Thomas Jr said the doctors quickly transferred him to a facility in Cebu, where he was rushed into a three-hour operation to remove the damaged limb. The family was given little choice. It was, he said, "a case of life or death."
Thomas is expected to undergo an additional procedure to remove a blood clot in his thigh. “One of his doctors said the next two or three days are critical. His left leg has been removed below the knee. They were worried about infection setting in sepsis or gangrene," had already been a concern "the flesh was black and dying,” Thomas Jr said.
He continued that there “was no option given” besides amputation. “It was either, ‘We have to operate now and remove the leg, or he may die.’ It was a life-threatening situation,” Thomas Jr said.
Strained family relationship amid years of health challenges
Thomas Markle has suffered significant health issues in recent years, including the heart surgery that forced him to miss Meghan and Prince Harry's 2018 wedding, and a stroke in 2022 while living in Tijuana.
His fractured relationship with Meghan has played out publicly, with multiple family members criticizing the Duchess over the years.
Most recently, Thomas Jr commented on Meghan's Netflix series 'With Love, Meghan' calling it "generic" earlier this year.
Despite longstanding tensions, the severity of Thomas' latest medical emergency appears to have prompted renewed communication from Meghan.
