Celine Dion’s sister has offered a heartbreaking update on the singer’s health in the wake of her stiff person syndrome diagnosis.
Last year, the My Heart Will Go On singer, 55, announced she had a rare neurological condition that causes gradual muscular stiffness.
Celine’s health issues forced her to postpone and then cancel her global tour, but she promised fans that she was determined to perform again.
Now, her sister Claudette has stated that the actress and her family are collaborating with specialists in the illness.
‘We can’t find any medicine that works, but having hope is important,’ she told French Canadian publication Le Journal de Montreal.
‘I honestly think that she mostly needs to rest. She always goes above and beyond [when performing], she always tries to be the best and top of her game.
‘At one point, your heart and your body are trying to tell you something. It’s important to listen to it.’
She also said that their sister Linda is now living with Celine in her Las Vegas home, where she keeps Claudette up to speed on her health when she is unable to speak with her one-on-one.
Following her diagnosis, fans of the artist flooded her with affection and were eager to support her with each update.
What we know thus far about Celine’s diagnosis and how it has affected her career, from performing to creating new music, is detailed below.
When was Celine Dion diagnosed with stiff person syndrome?
The singer announced her diagnosis in 2022 in an Instagram post sharing that she would be postponing her world tour.
Posting a press release on December 8, the headline read: ‘Celine Dion reschedules Spring 2023 shows to 2024, and cancels eight of her summer 2023 shows. ‼️’
The caption contained a personal statement from the singer, which read: ‘I’ve been suffering with health issues for a long time, and it’s been incredibly tough for me to confront these obstacles and talk about everything that I’ve gone through…’
‘It hurts me to tell you that I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.” – Céline.’
Celine also addressed the news in a video, explaining: ‘Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome which affects something like one in a million people.
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‘While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.’
Her celebrity pals, including Jennifer Hudson and Katharine Foster, showered her with affection.
What is stiff person syndrome?
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder that most often causes progressive muscle stiffness (rigidity) and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms, according to the National Organisation of Rare Diseases.
The disorder primarily affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and eventually renders victims ‘human statues’ as they become unable to walk or communicate.
Patients may become unable to walk or bend as the condition advances.
It affects twice as many women as males, and symptoms can appear at any age, but most commonly in your 30s and 40s.
muscular stiffness or rigidity, as well as severe muscular spasms, are signs of the illness.
Early on, stiffness may come and go, and symptoms may worsen slowly, but stiffness eventually becomes chronic.
SPS has no treatment, however pain symptoms can be controlled using anti-anxiety medications, muscle relaxants, anti-convulsants, and pain relievers.
Will she continue to tour and release new music?
Celine discussed how the disease had made her vocal exercises difficult when she revealed her SPS diagnosis to the world.
‘Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I’m used to,’ she explained.
She also spoke about how she was working with a sports medicine therapist to build her strength, but admitted ‘it’s been a struggle’.
The statement resulted in the cancellation of her world tour, which had previously been delayed when Celine had a health setback earlier this year.
She was believed to be suffering from severe muscular spasms that were preventing her from performing at the moment.
Celine told fans: ‘I’m so sorry we have to change our tour plans for Europe one more time; first we had to move the shows because of the pandemic, now it’s my health issues causing us to postpone the shows.
‘I am doing a little bit better…but I’m still experiencing some spasms. I need to be in top shape when I’m on stage. I honestly can’t wait, but I’m just not there yet… I’m doing my very best to get back to the level that I need to be so that I can give 100% at my shows because that’s what you deserve.’
The singer cancelled her global tour in May of this year, but she has stated that she is “not given up” on performing again.
‘It is with tremendous disappointment that we have to announce today the cancellation of the Courage World Tour,’ an announcement on her Instagram page read.
‘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%,’ she was quoted as saying.
‘It’s not fair to you to keep postponing the shows, and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything now until I’m really ready to be back on stage again.
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‘I want you all to know, I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!’
Tickets for the 42 cancelled shows, including scheduled gigs in Paris later this year and across the UK in April, will be returned, according to the artist.
Despite her difficulties, Celine returned to the studio early this year to record the music for Love Again, a new film in which she also stars opposite Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan.
The album was released in May and was her first new song since her 2019 album, Courage.
Source My Celebrity Life.
