Madonna, the 67-year-old pop superstar, has shared intimate details about her critical health battle in 2023, during which she fell into a two-day coma after contracting a bacterial infection that led to sepsis, lung, and kidney failure. The singer recounted the experience in a recent video, revealing that she was intubated and placed in a medically induced coma while in the ICU. This health crisis led to the postponement of her planned tour, though she has since recovered and returned to performing.
During the video, Madonna introduced her fans to Octavia, a purple stuffed octopus she now sleeps with every night. She explained that the octopus is a memento from her nurse, Olivia, who cared for her during her hospitalization. "She was screaming at me every day, telling me I needed to get up, I needed to get out of the ICU, and she really gave me a lot of courage and hope," Madonna said. After her discharge, her sister gifted her the octopus, which she named Octavia in honor of her nurse. "She's been with me ever since," Madonna added. "The stuffing is starting to get kind of gross, but I love her. I adore her."
Reflecting on her brush with death during a show in Los Angeles as part of her Celebration Tour in 2024, Madonna told the audience, "This show every night is not really so hard on me physically. It’s hard on me emotionally because I’m really telling you the story of my life." She described the experience as "near death" and shared that the first word she uttered after waking from her coma was "No!" She humorously interpreted this as a conversation with a higher power, asking if she wanted to ascend, to which she replied she did not.
Madonna also spoke about the challenging recovery period, during which she would frequently consult her doctor. "All he would say is, 'Go outside in the sun,'" she recalled. "It was so hard for me to walk from my house to the backyard and sit in the sun. I know that sounds insane, but it was difficult." She viewed this period as a lesson in relinquishing control. Her six children played a crucial role in her recovery, motivating her to regain her strength and return to performing. "My children are what really helped me pull through because they worked so hard," she shared. "I didn’t want to let them down, so I just set a date. And that date became reality."
In related news, Madonna recently discussed her collaboration with her daughter, Lourdes Leon, on her upcoming album, "Confessions II." She admitted that working with Leon was initially challenging, as her daughter had harbored resentment and was reluctant to be perceived as benefiting from her mother's fame. "She’s been very standoffish and working at her own pace, and I respect that deeply," Madonna said. However, the experience of writing a song together ultimately helped to heal their relationship, with Leon initiating the collaboration as a "healing experience."
Mention of her brother Christopher's death in 2024 also revealed that "Confessions II" was inspired by "family trauma." Christopher, who had worked with Madonna in various capacities before a public falling out in 2000, passed away at age 63 after battling cancer. Madonna described their bond as one forged in shared differences and navigating societal non-conformity. Their relationship had been strained by Christopher's resentment over sacrificing his artistic ambitions to support her career.