Beginning her career in the ’80s, -year-old Celine Dion has recently stepped away from the spotlight. Back in December, she revealed she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome. Recently, her sister Claudette has shared a heartbreaking update on Dion and her battle with the condition.
Stiff-person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by muscle rigidity, spasms, and posture deformities. It is a progressive condition that can cause chronic pain and impair mobility. Although Dion and her family are hard at work looking into treatments, Claudette revealed that the singer crossed a new, sobering threshold with the condition.
Claudette says Celine Dion is having help in her battle with stiff-person syndrome
Claudette recently sat down for an interview with Le Journal de Montreal, during which she gave an update on Dion and her battle with stiff-person syndrome. Their other sister, Claudette revealed, has moved into Dion’s house, also occupied by her sons René-Charles, Eddy, and Nelson. Linda is there specifically to further help Linda and coordinate her care with the rest of the family.
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“When I call her and she’s busy, I speak to my sister Linda who lives with her and tells me that she’s working hard,” shared Claudette. “She’s listening to the top researchers in the field of this rare disease as much as possible.”
Celine Dion has completely changed her plans in light of this health battle
I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again… and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything until I’m really ready to be back on stage… I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!” – Celine xx…
More info👉https://t.co/DHUch7W7OF pic.twitter.com/bgszxVd1za— Celine Dion (@celinedion) May 26, 2023
As of this May, Dion announced that she was canceling all her remaining live shows, telling her fans she did not feel physically strong enough to continue touring.
“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again,” she said on Twitter. “and even though it breaks my heart, it’s best that we cancel everything until I’m really ready to be back on stage… I’m not giving up… and I can’t wait to see you again!”
In addition to difficulty moving, Dion has found that the disorder is “not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
Dion had begun her Courage World Tour back in 2019 but the coronavirus pandemic put a pause on those tour dates. By the time things resumed, Dion canceled her North America dates due to health problems; her European dates followed the same path soon after.
“I’m working really hard to build back my strength,” she vowed when announcing the cancellation, “but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%.”
