Celine Dion’s Rare Condition has Caused Her to Lose Control of Her Muscles
The legendary singer revealed last year that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.
A year after telling the world about her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare acquired neurological disorder that causes muscle rigidity and spasms, legendary vocalist Celine Dion has lost control of her muscles. The news comes directly from her sister, Claudette Dion, who spoke to Canadian magazine 7 Jours on Celine’s battle with the illness.
In Claudette Dion’s update regarding her younger sister’s condition, the 75-year-old told 7 Jours, “There are some who have lost hope because it is a disease that is not [well] known.” She went on, “What pains me is that she has always been disciplined. She’s always worked hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You’re going to do it well, you’re going to do it properly.’”
In May this year, the ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer announced with great regret that she had to cancel her remaining 42 shows in 2023 and 2024 for her Courage World Tour, due to her deteriorating condition. In her statement at the time, Celine Dion said, “I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%.”
The cancellation of tour dates came about five months after the ‘All By Myself’ songstress initially revealed to the world that she had been struggling with severe muscle spasms from SPS for a long time. In an emotional and heartfelt Instagram update released in December 2022 in both English and French, Celine Dion spoke of how the rare autoimmune disease had been impacting her life, sharing, “Unfortunately, these 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.”
The Canadian singer continued, “I miss you so much, I miss seeing all of you, being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100% when I do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now. For me to reach you again, I have no choice but to concentrate on my health at this moment, and I have hope that I’m on the road to recovery.”
Eyes filled with tears, the 55-year-old concluded, “Take care of yourselves, be well. I love you guys so much, and I really hope I can see you again real soon. I really do.”
SPS is said to affect one to two in a million people, and at the moment is deemed incurable. Symptoms of the neurological disorder can only be alleviated by medicine and through the help of medical specialists.
