Madonna has admitted that she and her doctors believed that she probably wouldn't "make it" after she was rushed to the ICU earlier this year.
As previously reported, Madonna, famous for her high-energy performances and iconic career spanning over four decades, was forced to delay her world tour due to health concerns that led her to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
BBC News reported that Madonna was grappling with a bacterial infection and had spent several days in the hospital.
In the days leading up to her hospitalization, Madonna provided glimpses into the intense preparations for her upcoming tour via her Instagram posts. In one of her uploads, she captioned the series of images with: "The Calm Before The Storm…," revealing her exhaustion from strenuous rehearsals.
Page Six noted that Madonna required intubation briefly but is now on the path to recovery. Her family, however, reportedly faced a harrowing ordeal, with an unnamed family member speaking to the Daily Mail and disclosing that they had spent "several traumatic days unsure if she was going to pull through."
They added that this health scare has served as a "wake-up call" for Madonna, who had perhaps believed herself to be "invincible" while enduring grueling days in preparation for her tour.
The family member stated: "For the past couple of days, no one really knew which direction this was going to turn, and her family was preparing for the worst. That is why it was kept a secret since Saturday. Everyone believed that we may lose her, and that has been the reality of the situation."
Madonna has since proven that she is an absolute warrior and kicked off her tour in London on Saturday, where she addressed the crowd about her recent illness.
On stage at the 02, the star said: "I didn’t think I was gonna make it. Neither did my doctors. I forgot five days of my life - or my death … But my children were there - and my children always save me every time."
Rather fittingly, the star then proceeded to play an acoustic version of 'I Will Survive' after vowing that she knew that she had to pull through for the children, per the New York Post.
The show began with the Ray of Light single 'Nothing Really Matters', a fan favorite that received a rare performance. Madonna's grand entrance was met with thunderous applause from her adoring fans.
A hiccup occurred when sound problems forced an extended break, momentarily deflating the disco-ball atmosphere that had enveloped the entire O2 Arena. Madonna invited her hype person, Bob the Drag Queen, for some stage banter that, while endearingly awkward, provided a lighthearted moment.
Yet, given Madonna's history of perfectionism, there was a nagging sense of apprehension that perhaps the show was not fully prepared, or that Madonna, with her left knee wrapped, was not physically ready.
Those doubts dissipated as Madonna delivered a powerful reimagining of 'Erotica' in a sultry sequence reminiscent of her Girlie Show era. She followed it with 'Justify My Love' and her cover of 'Fever.'