After dominating the music scene in the 90s, Céline Dion is now experiencing the most painful side for any artist of her level: not being on stage for health reasons.
The 55-year-old Canadian star’s condition has been very worrying since she was diagnosed with rigid person syndrome last December and had to cancel all concerts planned for this year.
Dion, the youngest of 14 children, is supported by her family. Her sister Linda and her children moved into the “My Heart Will Go On” singer’s home to care for her. Another sister, Claudette, is the one who publicly reports her condition.
This syndrome is an incurable autoimmune neurological disease that affects the vocal cords and causes involuntary muscle contractions throughout the body, from the trunk to the arms and legs. Cramps that prevent you from singing and moving properly.
“Those who say my sister’s voice has disappeared are wrong. She sang several notes to me over the phone and her voice is still intact. I felt very happy and calm listening to her,” Claudette explained on Canada’s 7Jours.
He describes her as a strong woman who is doing everything in her power to get well again. The family wants to help her in some way, but there are certain uncontrollable symptoms.
“(She) struggles every day to overcome her difficulties, but the situation has not improved. We keep our fingers crossed for researchers to find a cure for this terrible disease,” Claudette told Hello! in Canada, in August.
For several months, specialists have been looking for a treatment to ease the artist’s pain, but there are still few scientific studies on the disease.
“We know very little (about the disease). There are cramps that you can’t control. Do you know how many people jump at night because they have a cramp in their leg or calf? It’s a little like that, but in all the muscles.” “There’s little we can do to support her and relieve her pain,” Claudette added.
He trusts that he will be able to see his sister on stage again one day and sends a message to fans.
“They love Céline not only because of her voice, but also because of the person she is. For the woman she has become, for the mother she has become. We love her for who she is,” Claudette emphasized.
For their part, employees of the Johns Hopkins medical organization published information about the chances of survival of a person suffering from the syndrome.
“Death from stiff person syndrome is rare and is usually due not to the disease itself, but to its complications such as blood clots or wound infections due to immobility.”
“In some extreme cases, chest muscle spasms can affect a person’s ability to breathe,” the medical organization notes.
Stiff person syndrome is generally caused by increased sensitivity to sound and touch, as well as a startle response that results in jerky muscle movements. Sometimes the autoimmune neurological disease progresses to the point where the affected person stops moving or walking.
Dion had to interrupt her stay in Las Vegas as well as her Courage World Tour through Europe, which she had already interrupted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m so sorry for letting you down again. I’m working really hard to get my strength back, but touring can be really hard even when you’re at 100 percent,” the star posted a few months ago.
Although she had the opportunity to reschedule her dates, the singer preferred to cancel them so as not to disappoint her fans.
“It’s not fair to you that I keep postponing shows and even though it breaks my heart, it’s better that I cancel everything until I’m truly ready to return to the stage. I want you to know that I’m not giving up and that I can’t wait to see you again! New!” he added.
The Courage World Tour included 42 concerts (19 dates this year and 23 more through 2024). Dion, mother of three, suffered the loss of her husband and supporter René Angélil in 2016.
