Meghan Markle is said to be feeling a combination of “guilt, relief, and responsibility” after her dad had his leg amputated.
Thomas Markle is currently in a hospital in the Philippines after having emergency surgery to remove his left leg, which turned black due to a blood clot. The 81-year-old underwent the three-hour procedure after doctors believed the amputation would prevent a fatal outcome.
His son, Thomas Markle Jnr, shared, “I was told the leg had to be removed, and it was a case of life or death. 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. The flesh was black and dying.”
Since the operation, which occurred on December 4, a spokesperson for Meghan confirmed she had reached out to her father.
However, psychology and mental health expert Steven Buchwald from Manhattan Mental Health Counseling has spoken exclusively to Daily Express US about how the Duchess of Sussex may be feeling, following Thomas’s health update.
“Major illnesses or sudden medical crises within an estranged family often trigger complex emotional responses, and Meghan Markle’s situation is no exception,” Steven explained, further noting that research shows that “estranged adult children commonly experience a mix of guilt, relief, responsibility, and emotional distance when a parent becomes unwell.”
The mental health expert also stated that the type of surgery Thomas has had may cause those aforementioned feelings to “intensify significantly.”
“Meghan may be experiencing conflicted loyalty, grief for the relationship she never had, or even protective detachment, which is a normal psychological response when past interactions have been painful,” Steven added.
He further explained that “feeling unsure, numb, or torn would be completely valid” in this situation, and that he believes the “healthiest approach” for an estranged child would be “one grounded in boundaries and intention.” Examples of this could include “sending a private message of support to maintaining distance while still acknowledging the gravity of the situation.”
Therefore, Steven’s advice for Meghan would be to “honour two things equally: her lived experiences and her emotional safety.”
However, the psychology expert did point out that “compassion does not always require contact, and contact does not guarantee healing” when it comes to estranged parent-child relationships.
On the other hand, from Thomas’s point of view, Steven thinks he could be experiencing feelings of “vulnerability, shame, or longing for reconnection.” He also said the 81-year-old former lighting director could experience “grief, anger, and fear” due to the loss of his limb.
