Two years after the most serious health crisis of her life, Madonna is speaking candidly about the dramatic moments she experienced in the summer of 2023, when a bacterial infection escalated into sepsis, landing her in the intensive care unit. The 67-year-old “Queen of Pop” was placed on a ventilator, put into a medically induced coma for two days, and fought for her life — a crisis that forced her to postpone her world tour. Now, having made a powerful return to the stage, she is revealing previously unknown details about her recovery and the people who stood by her side.
The stuffed octopus that reminds her of her ICU nurse
In an interview with Vogue Italia, Madonna introduced a stuffed octopus that she keeps by her side every night, explaining that it is the most emotionally meaningful keepsake from her ordeal. She named it “Octavia,” inspired by her nurse Olivia, who cared for her every day in the ICU and never stopped encouraging her to stay strong.
Describing what she went through, the singer said: “This is my favorite stuffed animal. Her name is Octavia and I sleep with her every night. I was in a coma and there was this beautiful nurse who was taking care of me. She would shout at me every day that I needed to get up, that I needed to get out of the ICU, and she really gave me so much courage and hope. When I got home, my sister gave me this octopus and I immediately thought of her.” As she revealed, the stuffed animal has been with her ever since. “She’s been with me from that moment on. She’s starting to get a little disgusting, but I love her. I adore her.”
A difficult recovery and the strength her children gave her
Madonna also recalled the first moment she opened her eyes after the 48-hour coma, as well as the grueling daily reality that followed, when even the simplest movements required an enormous effort. Reflecting on her recovery, she said: “The first word I said when I woke up was ‘No.’ I’m pretty sure it was God asking me if I wanted to go with him.” She went on to explain that her doctors advised her to go out in the sun, but even that seemed impossible. “I was constantly calling my doctor asking when my energy would come back. He would just say: ‘Go outside in the sun.’ It was so hard for me to walk from my house to the backyard and sit in the sun. I know it sounds crazy, but it was difficult.” She also took a moment to thank her six children, who, she said, were her greatest source of strength in her effort to return to the stage. “My children are the ones who really helped me pull through, because they worked so hard. I didn’t want to disappoint them. I set a date for my return and that date eventually became a reality.”
