While many performers were side-lined by COVID-19, Celine Dion, the five time Grammy award winner, experienced a completely different health scare. Following multiple postponements of her tour following the pandemic, Celine revealed in December 2022 that she was afflicted with an extremely rare health condition that could prevent her from performing live for an extended period of time. Celine declared she wouldn’t give up and that she hoped to resume touring once her strength returned after postponing her tour until May 2023.
Celine Dion’s diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome
When Celine posted an emotional video on social media, including Instagram, in 2022 to reveal her Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) diagnosis, the world was taken aback. According to John Hopkins Medicine, the uncommon ailment frequently affects about one or two in a million people and is known to cause a number of neurological health problems.
Celine apologised for taking so long to get in touch with you in an Instagram video at the time.
STIFF PERSON SYNDROME
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that stiff person syndrome can result in emotional distress that can trigger muscular spasms, increased sensitivity to lights and sounds, and muscle rigidity and spasms. Since it is so uncommon, diagnosing it can take years, and there is currently no treatment.
Muscle spasms, sometimes quite severe, are commonly linked to it. According to Dr. Emile Sami Moukheiber of the Stiff Person Syndrome Centre at Johns Hopkins Medicine, these can cause falls, severe pain, and significant disability, as stated to CNN. Severe spasm-related falls are extremely frequent. These spasms may be brought on by shock, intense feelings, or frost.
At times, stiff person syndrome can cause symptoms that are so severe that some people with the condition are unable to walk at all.
CELINE’S ONGOING SICKNESS
The 54-year-old has been dealing with SPS for more than a year, as evidenced by the fact that she had to cancel her tour dates in April 2022. In addition to having to postpone the tour in April 2022, the mother of three was also forced to do so in December of the same year because her health had not sufficiently improved to allow her to return to the stage.
Celine reported in April that while she was doing a bit better, her recuperation was going very slow. But regrettably, eight months later, Celine’s recovery was not going as quickly as she had planned. Her inability to walk and use her vocal chords to their full potential are among the many effects of the condition. In December, Celine gave her fans comfort, saying that she has a wonderful team of doctors working alongside her to help her get better, and her precious children, who are supporting her and giving me hope. She also said that she is putting a lot of effort into regaining her strength and performance potential every day with her sports medicine therapist.
In January 2022, she also disclosed her health issue; however, she had not yet disclosed the official diagnosis.
CELINE’S PROGNOSIS
The most recent indication that Celine is making progress towards her recovery is the new music she wrote for the Priyanka Chopra-starring 2023 movie Love Again. The Canadian-born actor also featured in the movie with Sam Heughan from Outlander and Priyanka. Just a few weeks before her diagnosis video, in November 2022, Celine announced on Instagram that she would be appearing in the romantic comedy.
Furthermore, according to Marca, her 74-year-old sister Claudette Dion apparently discussed her sister’s most recent health update with a local Canadian news source. In January 2023, Claudette said of Celine, that she is confident that life will give her back what she gave because she is an extremely intelligent woman, very generous and talented too. “I try to send her good vibes in the hopes that one day she will return to the stage, instead of crying over her fate. I genuinely think that love has great power. I do, however, wish her the very best of luck. While she recovers, experts are all around her.”
Celine is still making efforts to get better. She revealed that she was still unable to travel when she announced the cancellation of her Courage world tour. She apologised to her fans and said that she is working very hard to get better and deliver to her audience.
Claudette reportedly spoke to Le Journal de Montréal (via SheMazing) in August 2023 to share the depressing news about Celine, months after her last update on her sister. Claudette allegedly said to the outlet that they can’t find any medicine that works, but having hope is important. Furthermore, the worried siblings mentioned that they believed Celine needed enough sleep. It is essential to pay attention to it.
Claudette also disclosed that Celine now reportedly has Linda Dion living with her as a live-in carer in Las Vegas. Despite having gone through hell over the previous year, Celine feels stronger now, according to a November 2023 Closer article.
