Meghan Markle's family drama has taken another shocking turn, and this time it's truly a matter of life or death. Thomas Markle, the Duchess of Sussex's long-estranged father, has undergone emergency surgery to amputate his left foot and part of his lower leg after a terrifying medical crisis in the Philippines, where he moved earlier this year to start what he hoped would be a quieter chapter far from the constant reminder of his rift with Meghan. Related: Meghan's Jaw Drops After Harry Makes Cheeky Comment About Her Cooking! That's according to DailyMail.com, which spoke to his son Thomas Markle Jr. on Friday. Per the younger Markle, Thomas' health situation escalated with frightening speed. He explained what happened in blunt detail: "My dad is being very brave. His foot turned blue and then black. It happened very quickly. I took him to a local hospital and they did some scans and an ultrasound and said the leg had to be amputated." Jeez!!! Doctors rushed Thomas to a larger hospital in the city of Cebu, immediately recognizing the severity of the blood clot that cut off circulation and turned the limb necrotic. Surgeons reportedly took him into the operating room without delay, performing a three-hour procedure that family members were told was unavoidable. Thomas Jr. reiterated just how drastic the circumstances were: "There was no option. I was told the leg had to be removed and it was a case of life or death." Now recovering in the ICU, the older man is said to be stable - but far from out of danger. The next few days will determine not only how well he heals from the amputation but whether he can avoid further complications like infection or sepsis. His son described the grim warnings they received from the medical team: "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. There was no option given. It was either 'we have to operate now and remove the leg or he may die.' It was a life-threatening situation." One of the attending physicians also gave the DM a statement on Thomas' serious condition: "The wound is healing but the next 24 to 72 hours are critical. We need to make sure the wound heals and does not become infected. At the moment he is in stable condition and doing well. But, at his age, that could change quickly." Whoa. Through all this, Meghan has remained silent. Per the DM, a spokesperson for the Duchess declined to comment on her father's hospitalization. Of course, that no-comment choice continues a years-long freeze that began not long after the 2018 royal wedding. Since then, the father and daughter have never reconciled, despite Thomas longing for contact with Meghan and the grandchildren he has never met. Related: Meghan Earns HORRIBLE New Nickname After Making MAJOR Mistake! Thomas's health has been declining for years, including a stroke in 2022 that left him struggling with speech. He moved to the Philippines hoping for relief from the constant media reminders of Meghan and Prince Harry's ever-present public life. Meanwhile, the family said they've been overwhelmed by global support, especially from the UK, where sympathy for Thomas has remained strong. To conclude, the younger Markle shared heartfelt gratitude and also issued a plea to his half-sister Meghan as her father fights for his life: "Dad has a long road ahead. This was a major operation but he needed it to save his life. I would ask everyone to keep him in their thoughts. He is a brave and tough man. I would appeal to Meghan to show him compassion at this very difficult time." Only time will tell whether this harrowing medical emergency will melt the ice between father and daughter. But for now, the Markle family is simply hoping Thomas pulls through the most critical days of his life. Here's hoping Thomas comes out of the post-op okay. Sending well wishes! [Image via 60 Minutes Australia/YouTube/MEGA/WENN] The post Meghan Markle's Dad Thomas Has 'Life Or Death' Surgery To Amputate Foot & Part Of Leg -- Whoa! appeared first on Perez Hilton.