Celine Dion has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which affects only one in a million people.
The body experiences stiff man syndrome, which results in uncontrollable convulsions. The disorder cannot be cured, but some things can be done to slow its progression. Celine Dion’s condition has been identified as Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which causes her muscles to compulsively stiffen.
Patients eventually become “human statues” as the disease gradually locks the body into inflexible positions, rendering them unable to walk or speak.
While there is no known cure to stop SPS from growing, Celine says she does everything she can to ease the symptoms.
The 54-year-old singer apologized to her followers in an emotional Instagram message on Thursday, saying she had to postpone her European tour because of it.
“Hi everyone, sorry it took me so long to get back to you,” she wrote. I miss you all so much and I look forward to meeting you in person on stage. I’ve always been open about everything, and even though I wasn’t ready to say anything before, I am now. I have had health problems for a long time, so it was really difficult for me to face my difficulties and talk about what I went through.
I recently learned that I have Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that affects 1 in a million people.
Although there is still much to learn about this unusual disease, it is now known to be the source of the seizures I have been experiencing.
Celine went on to explain how the disease has affected her: “Unfortunately these spasms affect every area of my daily life, sometimes making it difficult for me to walk and preventing me from using my vocal cords to sing the way I used to.
I’m sorry to break the news to you today that I won’t be ready to resume my European tour in February. My wonderful children support and help me and I have a great team of doctors working with me to get well.
“I have to say it’s been tough, but I’m working hard every day with my sports medicine therapist to regain my strength and ability to perform.
“Singing is all I can do; it’s what I’ve done all my life and what I love to do most. I miss you.” I always give 100 percent when I do my show, but my condition now allows me to give you that right now. “To get back to you, I have no choice but to focus on my health at this time and hope that I am on the road to recovery. I miss seeing you all on stage performing for you.
“This is my top priority and I am taking all necessary steps to get well. I want to express my gratitude for your kind words, support, and well wishes on my social media. I appreciate that very much.
“Take care. Good luck. I adore you all so much and I honestly want to see you soon.”
When she postponed the North American dates of her Courage world tour from March 9 to April 22, Celine gave the first hint that she was suffering from health problems.
Three months earlier, she had to postpone the start of her return to Las Vegas due to the same health problem.
Celine’s wildly popular residency in Las Vegas earned her the title “Queen of Las Vegas.”
She was convinced to return to Sin City in 2019 after ending her famous engagement at Caesars Palace to perform at the brand-new Resorts World on the Strip.
Celine recently underwent treatment for severe and chronic muscle spasms that prevent her from performing, and her recovery is taking longer than she intended, according to a statement on her website. Her medical staff is still diagnosing and treating the problem.
“I thought I’d be fine by now,” Celine continued, “but I guess I just need to be more patient and follow the regimen the doctors recommend.
“Our concerts require a lot of planning and preparation, so we have to make decisions now that will affect our plans in two months. I can’t wait to get back on stage again and I’m so happy to be back to full health.” along with everyone else.
“Meanwhile, I’ve been touched by all the messages of support people have been leaving me on social media. Your love and support mean the world to me and I feel it.”
In 2019, Celine’s fans expressed concern over her alleged “too skinny” appearance.
Is there something wrong with my body? the Canadian singer-songwriter noted to Entertainment Tonight, adding that she’s “always been very thin.”
“If you go back to when I was 12, you had a rounder face because you’re younger and you have more fat, but I was always very thin,” she continued.
The SPS diagnosis is Celine’s latest grief after her husband Rene Angelil died in 2016 at the age of 73.
Rene-Charles, 21, and identical twins Nelson and Eddy, 12, are the three sons Celine had with her late husband.
When she first met Ren, he was already 38 years old and she was a 12-year-old singer. He took over as her boss.
He reportedly mortgaged his house out of a commitment to support her career to pay for her first album, 1981’s La Voix du bien Dieu.
When Celine was barely 19 and Rene was 45, they started dating seriously in 1987. They got engaged in 1991.
She did not go public with their relationship until 1993 when she included the news in the liner notes of her album The Color Of My Love.
They were married at Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica in December 1994, and Rene’s funeral and Rene-Charles’ christening were also held there.
In January 2016, Rene, who was 73 and had terminal throat cancer, died after suffering a heart attack. Celine lost her brother Daniel to throat cancer two days later.
In August of that year, she released a Celine tribute album, Encore un soir, in French, along with a single of the same name, which became popular in French-speaking markets.