Meghan Markle’s Dad Thomas Markle Had Left Leg Amputated, Son Says

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Thomas Markle faced a terrifying scenario. 

Meghan Markle’s 81-year-old father recently had his left leg amputated below the knee after experiencing a blood clot, according to his son, Tom Markle Jr., who spoke with The Daily Mail. The surgery took place on December 3rd.

Tom shared that his father is incredibly courageous. He explained that his dad’s foot quickly turned blue, then black, and after being taken to the hospital and undergoing scans and an ultrasound, doctors determined his leg needed to be amputated.

He explained that amputation was unavoidable. Doctors told him his life depended on removing the leg.

I was really saddened to hear that my friend Tom’s father needs another procedure on his leg. He’s dealing with a blood clot in his left thigh, thankfully they were able to avoid amputation. Tom shared with me that he’s understandably very worried about his dad’s health, and I’m sending all my positive thoughts their way. It’s a tough time for them, and it really highlights how quickly things can change, reminding us to cherish our loved ones.

Tom shared that doctors said the next couple of days were very important. They had to amputate his left leg below the knee because they were concerned about infection, specifically sepsis or gangrene. He explained that the tissue in his leg had turned black and was deteriorating.

Despite how dramatically the surgery would change his life, Tom explained he didn’t feel he had a choice. Doctors told him, ‘We need to operate immediately to save his life, or we’ll have to remove the leg.’ It was a truly dangerous situation.

Thomas’ medical procedure occurred in the Philippines, where he’s been living in recent months. 

Two months prior, people became worried about his well-being after an earthquake hit the country on September 30th. His daughter, Samantha Markle—Meghan’s half-sister, and her father, Tom—indicated he was in a potentially dangerous situation at the time.

On September 30th, a woman posted on X (formerly Twitter) that her father was trapped on the 19th floor of a building in the Philippines after a major earthquake. He is unable to walk and needs help.

Thomas quickly clarified the situation, telling TMZ that reports he was “trapped” or “unable to walk” were false. He explained the earthquake’s center was actually quite far from the hotel he was staying at.

He said he was relaxing in his hotel room, feet up, and enjoying some classic Charlie Chan movies. “I’m really comfortable,” he added.

For more celebrities who have experienced harrowing health challenges, read on. 

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest during a wrestling match with Piper Niven in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as her career ended, she’d return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, because she planned to continue with those activities and wanted to be presentable.

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2025, when she shared on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with it for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, many girls are told that periods are naturally painful, and that this pain is just something women have to deal with. This often leaves people feeling like they’re suffering in silence with something incredibly common.

 

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! Riley Keough, my queen, was hospitalized in July 2025! Apparently, she got a hernia – it’s like, a little gap in her muscle, usually in her tummy or groin – all because she wears super tight pants! Can you even imagine? She’s so stylish, even her fashion choices try to kill her! I’m seriously worried about her, but also… still obsessed.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter) asking why she hadn’t tweeted in a while. Her reply was a surprising confession: she revealed she’d been afraid to tell anyone she got a hernia six months ago, caused by wearing extremely tight pants.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to fix a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained that his appendix had a perforation – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to doing so.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

During a soccer game against the Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle, a midfielder from Racing Louisville collapsed after only a few minutes of play.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player sat down on the field with a teammate supporting her, and then quickly collapsed. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

Savannah received immediate medical attention on the field and was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from being hit by a cement truck at age 11 still cause him problems today.

“It’s been awful,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been experiencing spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite working perfectly.”

The reality TV star revealed he had to crawl to the hospital because of severe back pain that worsened during a road trip with a friend.

I was really shocked listening to him on his Trading Secrets podcast back in March 2025. He described how his knees still felt tingly, which is just wild. He put it in perspective by saying that just a few weeks before, he was squatting almost 300 pounds! But now, he can’t even do a squat, can’t balance on one leg, and actually falls over. He said it felt like he’d had a stroke, and it was honestly really concerning to hear.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but was now recovering.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was accidentally shot in the face while on a clay pigeon shooting outing celebrating her husband, Brendan Rooney’s, birthday.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party. They fired a weapon unsafely, and she was hit five times, with one bullet narrowly missing her right eye. @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her, providing first aid and rushing her to the hospital.

According to the former Kim Possible star, a small piece of something got stuck behind her eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, and they’ll be keeping a close watch on her condition, but she currently has normal vision.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that the experience made her realize how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, even though it can be harsh, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” and receiving critical comments online, doctors began commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition potentially caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Amy to realize she’d been getting steroid injections for past procedures like a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, and she was incredibly relieved to receive a good diagnosis. As she shared, finding out she was healthy was the best news she could have hoped for.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN how grateful they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and no parent should ever have to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, initially unable to respond when Justin asked if she was alright. She then realized she couldn’t speak and the right side of her face began to droop.

Although her speech and facial movement eventually returned, Hailey went to the hospital where scans revealed she’d had a small blood clot in her brain, which doctors identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).

Further testing at UCLA uncovered a hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Doctors determined the blood clot had traveled to her brain through this hole, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

Oh my gosh, it was such a scary time! The same year Hailey was dealing with her health issues, Justin went through something awful too. In June 2022, he revealed he’d been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and honestly, my heart just broke for him. It caused paralysis on his face – he explained it in a video, showing how he couldn’t blink his eye or even smile on one side. He said it was getting harder and harder for him to even eat! It was so upsetting to see. Thankfully, the paralysis eventually went away, and Hailey said he was doing really well and feeling much better. She was so relieved, and honestly, so was I! It was just a really scary, random thing to happen, but I’m just so, so grateful he’s okay. He’s such a fighter!

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had initially kept private. In his 2024 Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…, he explained that he was suffering from a severe headache when he suddenly lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

He initially saw a doctor who gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that caused a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then went to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the support he received, saying, “I appreciate every prayer, because I needed every prayer.”

The reality TV star said she temporarily stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, everything went dark, but she then experienced a bright light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

As a huge fan of Emilia Clarke, I was absolutely floored when I read her incredibly honest essay about her health battles. It all started back when she was filming Game of Thrones. She described having a terrible headache at the gym, and suddenly collapsing, feeling incredibly sick. She knew something was seriously wrong – she felt like her brain was damaged.

It turned out she’d suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a really dangerous type of stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She had immediate surgery, which she described as unbelievably painful. Even after that, while recovering, she struggled with aphasia and found herself unable to speak properly. Thankfully, that passed after a week, and she was able to leave the hospital after a month.

But the ordeal wasn’t over. A scan in 2013 revealed the aneurysm had actually doubled in size, meaning she needed another surgery. This one was even more intense – they had to access her brain directly through her skull. She said she woke up screaming from the pain, and the procedure initially failed, leading to a massive bleed. The doctors were very clear that her chances of survival were slim if they didn’t operate again.

It’s just incredible to me that after everything she’s been through, Emilia is now, thankfully, at 100%. Her story is so brave and inspiring, and it really puts things into perspective.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared her gratitude for her family’s support after she experienced a stroke in January 2024. She told TopMob News that she immediately texted her family and sent a picture, and they all quickly came to her aid. Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to complications with lupus and kidney issues. Thankfully, she is now recovering well. “I’m doing great,” Cori said, explaining she’s been working to regain some motor skills but is otherwise feeling good.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she revealed she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems that made eating painful. After years of conflicting diagnoses, Shailene, who prefers to keep her specific condition private, took a holistic approach to healing, consulting both traditional doctors and alternative healers. This journey lasted a full decade. She explained that the physical discomfort led to anxiety around food and, eventually, issues with body image and a sense of self. Thankfully, after years of work on both her physical and mental wellbeing, Shailene is now healthy and happy.

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2025-12-05 16:52