Céline Dion
Celine Dion has lost control of her muscles amid her battle with a rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome, and her sister is concerned that the Canadian singer may also soon lose control of other parts of her body, like her vocal cords and heart.
Dion’s sister Claudette revealed the phenomenal crooner’s worsening health condition as she gave an update to a French publication 7 Jours.
“There are some who have lost hope because it is a disease that is not known. If you only knew how many calls we receive at the Foundation to hear from Céline. People tell us they love her and pray for her. She gets so many messages, gifts, and blessed crucifixes. She works hard, but she has no control over her muscles. What makes me sad is that she was also so disciplined,” Claudette said.
She further said it is her dream for Dion to return to stage; however, given the current situation, everything remains uncertain.
“In what capacity? I don’t know,” she said. “The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what gets me. Because it’s a one-in-a-million case, scientists don’t have that much research on the topic because it didn’t affect that many people.”
Dion first opened up about her diagnosis in December 2022, saying she had to reschedule some of her tour dates. In May 2023, she announced she was canceling the remaining dates of her world tour due to her health condition.
“The spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to,” Céline said in an Instagram video. “I have to admit it’s been a struggle. All I know is singing; it’s what I’ve done all my life.”
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, stiff-person syndrome, or SPS, is a disorder that produces “progressive muscle stiffness and painful spasms” in response to environmental stimuli, including “sudden movement, cold temperature, or unexpected loud noises.”