Amid her battles with a rare disease, Celine Dion remains hopeful that she will return onstage
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Celine Dion, the legendary voice behind timeless classics such as 'My Heart Will Go On', is facing a personal challenge that has put her illustrious career on pause.
The Canadian icon, known for her powerful vocals and dynamic performances, is currently battling a rare and incurable neurological disorder known as stiff-person syndrome (SPS).
Despite the severity of her condition, which has significantly impacted her muscle control, Celine remains hopeful of making a triumphant return to the stage one day.
Celine's older sister, Claudette Dion, has been a source of updates on the singer's health.
Claudette recently revealed the extent of Celine's struggles, saying: 'She's working hard, but she doesn't have control over her muscles.'
'What breaks my heart is that she's always been disciplined.'
'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.'
The rarity of stiff-person syndrome means that research into the condition is limited.
'The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what comes to get me,' Claudette added.
'Because it's [a one] out of a million case, the scientists haven't done that much research because it didn't affect that many people.'
Despite the challenges, the Dion family remains hopeful, buoyed by the outpouring of love and support from fans worldwide. The Fondation Maman Dion, a charity founded by the Dion family, has also received countless messages of support for Celine.
'Some people have lost hope because it's [an] illness that isn't well known,' Claudette said.
'If only you knew the number of phone calls the Foundation gets about Celine.'
'People tell us they love her, and they're praying for her.'
'She gets so many messages, presents and blessed crucifixes.'
Claudette previously shared Celine has seen little improvement in her health despite working with 'the top researchers in the field'.
'We can't find any medicine that works, but having hope is important,' Claudette said.
In the face of adversity, Celine has not lost her spirit or her dreams, as she hopes to return on stage and perform once again for her fans.
Claudette has emphasised her sister's mental strength and joy for life and dispelled rumours of depression or a decline into a wheelchair-bound state.
'I know that morally, mentally, she is strong. She is not depressed at all…she really has the joy of living. We will get through this,' she said.
Stiff-person syndrome is a progressive autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system, leading the body to attack its own nerve cells.
This results in severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms, which can be debilitating and greatly affect mobility.
The condition can also lead to spasms that generate enough force to fracture the bones.
Mostly women aged 30-50 are diagnosed with this rare disease.
Celine revealed her diagnosis in December 2022 through a social media post. She then had to cancel her world tour, which was initially scheduled to begin at the end of 2023.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you know someone who is battling the same disease or going through something similar? Let us know in the comments below.
The Canadian icon, known for her powerful vocals and dynamic performances, is currently battling a rare and incurable neurological disorder known as stiff-person syndrome (SPS).
Despite the severity of her condition, which has significantly impacted her muscle control, Celine remains hopeful of making a triumphant return to the stage one day.
Celine's older sister, Claudette Dion, has been a source of updates on the singer's health.
Claudette recently revealed the extent of Celine's struggles, saying: 'She's working hard, but she doesn't have control over her muscles.'
Celine Dion remains hopeful despite her battle with a rare disease. Image source: Instagram/@celinedion.
'What breaks my heart is that she's always been disciplined.'
'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.'
The rarity of stiff-person syndrome means that research into the condition is limited.
'The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what comes to get me,' Claudette added.
'Because it's [a one] out of a million case, the scientists haven't done that much research because it didn't affect that many people.'
Despite the challenges, the Dion family remains hopeful, buoyed by the outpouring of love and support from fans worldwide. The Fondation Maman Dion, a charity founded by the Dion family, has also received countless messages of support for Celine.
'Some people have lost hope because it's [an] illness that isn't well known,' Claudette said.
'If only you knew the number of phone calls the Foundation gets about Celine.'
'People tell us they love her, and they're praying for her.'
'She gets so many messages, presents and blessed crucifixes.'
Claudette previously shared Celine has seen little improvement in her health despite working with 'the top researchers in the field'.
'We can't find any medicine that works, but having hope is important,' Claudette said.
In the face of adversity, Celine has not lost her spirit or her dreams, as she hopes to return on stage and perform once again for her fans.
Claudette has emphasised her sister's mental strength and joy for life and dispelled rumours of depression or a decline into a wheelchair-bound state.
'I know that morally, mentally, she is strong. She is not depressed at all…she really has the joy of living. We will get through this,' she said.
Stiff-person syndrome is a progressive autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system, leading the body to attack its own nerve cells.
This results in severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms, which can be debilitating and greatly affect mobility.
The condition can also lead to spasms that generate enough force to fracture the bones.
Mostly women aged 30-50 are diagnosed with this rare disease.
Celine revealed her diagnosis in December 2022 through a social media post. She then had to cancel her world tour, which was initially scheduled to begin at the end of 2023.
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