Madonna opens up about her 2023 sepsis battle: “I was unconscious for four days”

Pop icon Madonna has shared new details about sepsis frightening health scare she experienced during her 2023 tour.

In an interview with Jay Shetty on his podcast ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty’, the singer spoke candidly about her battle with a serious bacterial infection that left her unconscious for four days. She also revealed how her spiritual practice of Kabbalah played an important role in her recovery.

Advertisement

Madonna was rushed to the hospital in June 2023 after falling ill while rehearsing for her tour. She recalled the shocking speed at which her health deteriorated.

“One minute I was alive and dancing around, and the next minute I was in the ICU,” she said. Doctors told her she had sepsis, a dangerous condition where the body reacts strongly to an infection, potentially damaging organs like the lungs, kidneys, and liver.

In severe cases, it can even be fatal.

“I woke up after four days of being unconscious. They had me on a ventilator, and then I started breathing on my own. I had sepsis, and it can kill you,” Madonna explained.

Also Read: Who is Param? 19-year-old from a small Punjab village goes viral with ‘That Girl’

“I always saw myself as superwoman,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’m going to kick this. I’ll be good. I’ll get back into rehearsals.’” But reality was far harsher. The pop star described feeling completely drained, without strength or energy, barely able to get out of bed, and unsure when the ordeal would end.

Her recovery, she said, was gradual and humbling. Over time, Madonna leaned on her faith and spiritual practices. She credited Kabbalah with helping her find strength during the darkest moments of her illness.

Reflecting on this period, she acknowledged the inevitability of suffering in life, regardless of wealth or privilege. “There’s no way we’re going to escape suffering,” she said. “Even if we grow up with wealth and privilege, our challenges and our suffering are going to come to us in a different way.”

A year after leaving the hospital, Madonna shared her gratitude and joy on Instagram. In July 2024, she wrote about her “miraculous recovery” and how she could barely stand the previous year. “A year ago today, I had just come home from the hospital after surviving a life-threatening illness. I could barely stand in my backyard holding one sparkler. I made a miraculous recovery and had an amazing year. Thank you God. Life is beautiful!”