Iconic singer Celine Dion has seen her health continue to decline amid her battle with a neurological condition. The disease, known as ‘stiff person syndrome’, forced the singer to cancel her world tour, scheduled for February this year.
Her sister has now confirmed that although she is “working hard” to get back to her best, “she has no control over her muscles. She also shared that many fans have continued to send their love and support to Dion since she first revealed her diagnosis.
Celine Dion has lost control of her muscles
Celine Dion’s sister Claudette recently shared an update on the singer’s health amid her struggles with stiffness syndrome.
Claudette revealed that Dion is working diligently on her recovery, just as the singer promised in an emotional Instagram video in English and French when she informed fans of her condition. However, her efforts have not contributed much to her recovery, and she can now no longer ‘control’ her muscles.
“What breaks my heart is that she has always been disciplined,” the famous singer’s sister said in an interview with 7 days, according to the Daily email. “She has always worked hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You’re going to do well, you’re going to do well.’”
She added: “It is true that in our dreams as well as in hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? Don’t know.”
Celine Dion still receives support from fans
According to Claudette, Dion’s condition is rare, affecting about one in a million people. Stiff Person Syndrome has no precise cause, but researchers suspect it is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks healthy cells for no apparent reason.
As such, the limited research into the disease has made it difficult to find a solution that could help Dion cope with its symptoms, which include limb stiffness, painful muscle spasms, walking difficulties and sensory issues.
Although Dion has since remained quiet following her diagnosis, she continues to receive support from her fans through her family charity, Fondation Maman Dion.
Claudette said: ‘Some people have lost hope because they are all diseases that are not well known. If you only knew how many calls the Foundation gets about Celine! People tell us they love her and they are praying for her. She gets so many messages, presents and blessed crucifixes.”
When Did Celine Dion Reveal Her Stiff-Person Syndrome Diagnosis?
The new update on Dion’s health comes more than a year after the singer broke the news about her condition to fans.
In December 2022, she opened up to fans in a tearful video, which she used as an opportunity to announce the cancellation of the European leg of her tour, scheduled for February 2023.
Dion said she had “been struggling with health issues for a long time” before being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. She added that the spasms caused by her disease “affect every aspect of her daily life,” sometimes causing walking problems and preventing her from properly using her vocal cords.
“I have to admit it has been a struggle. All I know is to sing, that’s what I’ve done all my life…” the singer continued in the video. “I have hope that I am on the road to recovery. This is my focus and I am doing everything I can to recover.
The legendary singer recently made a public appearance
Last month, Dion made her first public appearance in three years when she attended a hockey game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vega. According to reports, the singer appeared to be in good spirits as she cheered on her home team, the Montreal Canadiens, who were playing the Vegas Golden Knights.
For the outing, Dion wore a chic white vest and arrived with her sons René-Charles, 22, and 13-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy.
Later, the trio visited the locker room to interact with the Montreal Canadiens team. Dion also took the time to pose for a photo with the team’s VP, Chantal Machabee. The photo eventually made it to Machabee’s social media page and elicited a joyful response from the singer’s fans.
