Thomas Markle says he doesn’t want to die estranged from daughter Meghan

Thomas Markle has pleaded with his daughter, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to see him “one more time before I die” after undergoing emergency surgery to amputate his left leg below the knee in the Philippines earlier this week. The 81-year-old retired TV lighting director had what doctors described as “life or death” surgery after a massive blood clot in his thigh cut off circulation to his foot and lower leg. He remains “stable” in intensive care but still requires treatment for another blood clot in his thigh.
Amid reports that Meghan, 44, had reached out to him following his health scare, Thomas said he was “confused” by the claims. He said, “I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan.” With his permission, the hospital confirmed that no department, including administration, reception, intensive care, doctors or nurses, had received any communication from the Duchess or her representatives. A hospital source added, “Mr Markle is a VIP patient. If Meghan or anyone connected with her had called the hospital, we would have known. We were all confused when we saw the story that the Duchess had reached out to her dad.” Some reports have stated otherwise with a spokesperson for the Duchess telling a US-based publication, “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.” –Agencies