Meghan Markle's dad Thomas seen using placard to communicate in first public appearance after stroke
Meghan Markle's estranged father has made his first public appearance since suffering a stroke over two months ago. In a video that was aired as part of an interview his son gave, Thomas Markle, 77, made a brief return to the spotlight. Thomas Markle suffered a stroke on May 23 and spent five days in the hospital. The severe stroke was caused by a blood clot on the right side of his brain, according to the Daily Mail.
He eventually recovered after being rushed to the hospital and was able to utter a few words, but it will be difficult for him to speak normally once again. His son Thomas Markle Jr spoke candidly about his father's progress during an interview with GB News. In the footage, Meghan Markle's father was shown writing on a whiteboard to communicate after the stroke left him mostly unable to talk. On Dan Wootton's program, he created a placard that stated, “Hi Dan, Thank you and the British people for the best wishes and goodwill.”
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Thomas Markle reportedly said a few weeks ago upon his discharge, “I feel hugely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive. I want to thank everyone, especially the wonderful doctors and nurses who saved my life. They are angels. I have been deeply moved by the loving messages I’ve received from all over the world. People have been so kind. I can’t speak right now, but I am working hard and will thank people properly when I can.”
Earlier, he had intended to travel to the UK in June for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, but the stroke put a stop to his plans. “I wanted to come to pay my respects to the Queen. I wish her a happy Jubilee and many more years,” he wrote in a message shared at the time. Thomas was also forced to miss his daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 after he had two heart attacks just days before. Samantha, Thomas' daughter and Meghan Markle's half-sister, had stated that Thomas would require a full year of therapy to regain his speech following the stroke. His family had reportedly been worried about his high blood pressure before the incident, which prevented him from communicating his symptoms to the paramedics on time, and he was required to list his symptoms on paper.