CELINE Dion revealed she was taking a break from touring her music because of an incurable neurological condition in December 2022.
But rumours are swirling that the legendary singer will perform with Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and Aya Nakamura on the River Seine for the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.
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What condition has Celine Dion been diagnosed with?
Celine Dion, 56, told her fans she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in December 2022.
It is a neurological disease with features of autoimmune conditions.
The exact cause of SPS is not known.
According to experts at University College London, the condition is caused by persistent spasms and affects multiple muscles — primarily the lower limbs.
Most people who develop the illness will receive a diagnosis between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.
SPS can leave sufferers as “human statues” and sometimes unable to walk or talk.
In most cases, people with SPS respond to high doses of diazepam, which is often used as an anti-anxiety medication.
Pain relievers will also improve the symptoms, but these will not cure the disorder.
Speaking about her diagnosis in December 2022, a tearful Celine explained: ”Hello everyone, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out to you.
“I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person.
“As you know I’ve always been an open book and I wasn’t ready to say anything before but I’m ready now.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it’s been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.
“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the Stiff Person Syndrome which affects one in a million people.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all the spasms I’ve been having.”
She continued: “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.
The goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know
Celine’s sister Claudette
“It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”
The singer then went on to say that she is working with a “great team of doctors” to get better.
What are the symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome?
Symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome can take several months to a few years to develop.
The severity and progression of SPS can also vary from one person to another.
The first signs of the condition are intermittent spasms, which then become continuous. However, experts say that spasms don’t usually occur during sleep.
Symptoms include minor sensory stimuli — those with this symptom would notice they have become more sensitive to noise, light, and touch.
Other symptoms to look out for are pain, severe spasms, and impaired breathing (in advanced cases).
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Many people with SPS will experience falls because they lack defensive reflexes, experts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke added.
Affected individuals should talk to their doctors about their symptoms.
How is Celine Dion doing?
It seems that Celine’s condition has gotten more complicated to manage as she fights the rare disease.
In December 2023, Celine’s sister Claudette spoke about the Canadian star’s health with the French publication 7 Jours.
According to E! News, via translation from French, Claudette said: “She doesn’t have control over her muscles.
“What breaks my heart is that she’s 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.'”
She added: “It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know.”
As Entertainment Weekly reported, Claudette told 7 Jours: “The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what comes to get me.
“Because [Dion’s condition is a] one out of a million case, the scientists haven’t done that much research because it didn’t affect that many people.”
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According to the outlet, representatives for Celine did not immediately respond to its request for comment.
There is currently no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome, which can leave sufferers as “human statues,” sometimes unable to walk or talk.
But Celine defied the odds and presented the award for Album of the Year to Taylor Swift at the Grammys 2024.
The My Heart Will Go On singer was greeted with a standing ovation as she handed out the final award of the night.
“When I say that I’m happy to be here,” Celine said, choking back tears of her own, “I really mean it.”
What is the I Am: Celine Dion documentary and how can I watch it?
The I Am: Celine Dion documentary shows how Celine’s life has changed following her SPS diagnosis.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, its logline states, “the inspirational and emotional documentary [is] a love letter to her fans [and] highlights the music that has guided Celine Dion’s life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.”
According to the outlet, Celine tearfully says in the documentary, “My voice is the conductor of my life. It’s not hard to do a show, you know. It’s hard to cancel a show. I’m working hard every day, but I have to admit, it’s been a struggle.
“I miss it so much. The people, I miss them. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. And I won’t stop.”
I Am: Celine Dion dropped on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
