Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., is preparing to live with a prosthetic leg after sustaining a serious injury that required his leg to be amputated.
According to the Mirror, Thomas Markle Jr. said during a livestream that he was undergoing “therapy” and “physical rehabilitation” in the Philippines, where his father lives.
“We need to get him fitted with a prosthetic leg here soon so he can walk again,” he added, calling it the 81-year-old’s “goal” and “priority.”
In early December, it was revealed that Thomas Sr. had been admitted to the intensive care unit after undergoing emergency surgery.
At the time, her son told news outlets that he felt unwell at home and was rushed to the hospital.
“I took my father to a hospital near our home where they ran various tests and the doctors said that my father’s life was in immediate danger,” Thomas Jr., 59, told the Daily Mail.
“They rushed us in an ambulance with sirens blaring and took us to a bigger hospital in the city centre.”
Meghan’s sister, Samantha Markle, blamed her poor health on the hardships of recent years, adding: “He’s a strong man, but he’s been through so much.”
“I hope my dad is strong enough to get through this. He’s had two heart attacks, a stroke, and an earthquake. I hope he can get through this.”
On Dec. 5, the former Hollywood lighting director underwent a three-hour surgery to have his left leg amputated below the knee after a blood clot cut off his circulation.
“My father is very brave. His leg turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly,” Thomas Jr told the Daily Mail, explaining that there was “no other option” but to have it amputated as it was now “a matter of life and death”.
“It was, ‘We have to operate now and remove my leg, or I might die.’ It was a life-threatening situation,” he stressed.
Despite their estrangement, Page Six confirmed that Meghan contacted her father immediately after the surgery.
Thomas Sr. had to miss Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding in 2018 after undergoing heart surgery and has always struggled to provide support.
Four years later, while living in Tijuana, Mexico, he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized again.
After being discharged from hospital five days later, he told the Daily Mail: “I’m very grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive.”
Thomas Sr. welcomed Meghan along with Doria Ragland, whom he was married to from 1979 to 1987. Thomas welcomed Samantha and Thomas Jr. with his first ex-wife Roslyn Markle.
