The Duchess of Sussex’s estranged father has returned to the US from the Philippines to receive a cutting-edge prosthetic limb to help restore his mobility.
Thomas Markle, 81, has been undergoing rehabilitation since his left leg was amputated during a three-hour life-saving procedure in December. He nearly lost his life when a blood clot in his left thigh blocked blood flow to his foot. The former Hollywood lighting director has now relocated to an undisclosed location after departing his home on the island of Cebu, where he had moved last year to begin a fresh chapter more than 7,000 miles away from Harry and Meghan.
His elder daughter, Samantha, Meghan’s half-sister, said, “Dad made the decision to come back to the US for ongoing medical care. He will be able to get the best prosthetics here and be surrounded by friends and family to support him. Even though he has been through such traumatic times, this has been a positive spiritual experience for dad.”
Thomas hasn’t communicated with Meghan since he said he experienced two heart attacks before her 2018 wedding and couldn’t escort her down the aisle. Consequently, he has never met Prince Harry or his grandchildren Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.
Following his most recent surgery, the Duchess’s representatives confirmed she had “reached out” to her dad. Meghan, who has been estranged from him since her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, sent a letter to his hospital bedside, which was delivered by US embassy officials. However, her half-brother Thomas Jr., who previously revealed that their father’s health insurance would not cover the cost of his care, claims that Meghan, 44, has still not contributed financially to help.
Speaking in February, Thomas Jr., 59, said, “He’s going through therapy. He’s going through physical rehab. We’re going to have to get him fitted for a prosthetic here pretty soon and get that man walking again. That’s the goal. That’s the priority,” reports the Mirror.
The Sunday Mirror revealed Thomas’s move to the Philippines and his life in a £500 ($680)-a-month high-rise flat, where he was being cared for by his son, back in May last year. Our exclusive pictures showed him sitting alone, resting in blistering heat outside a supermarket near his new home.
Following the amputation of his left leg below the knee in December, Mr. Markle praised the “care and compassion” of the Filipino people, stating, “I would not be alive today were it not for the care I received from the wonderful doctors and nurses in the Philippines. They saved my life.”
He also spoke of finding love with Filipino nurse Rio Canedo, 46, after being transferred from the hospital to a rehabilitation unit. Ms. Canedo, a divorced mother of two, reportedly accompanied Mr. Markle to the airport yesterday for an emotional farewell. He revealed plans to stay connected through FaceTime and expressed hope that she’ll be able to visit him in the US soon. He attributes his weight loss and renewed determination to walk following surgery to Ms. Canedo, who is only two years older than Meghan.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he explained, “The next stage is to get an electric wheelchair and then a prosthetic leg.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
