Today, Céline Dion announced that she has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a neurological disorder that is said to affect only “millions of one of” people. To share the news, the 54-year-old Quebec singer and mother of three posted a candid and emotional video on Instagram.
“As you know, I’ve always been an open book,” Dion said. “I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now. I’ve been dealing with my own health issues for a long time and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and talk about what I’ve been through. ’” She went on to reveal that Stiff Person Syndrome is a health disorder she’s been dealing with, detailing how the condition affects her day-to-day life.
“Unfortunately, the spasticity affects every aspect of my daily life,” she continued, “occasionally causing difficulty when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to follow my way to sing” I’m used to. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), SPS is a rare disorder with features of an autoimmune disease. It is characterized by fluctuations in muscle stiffness in the trunk and extremities, and increased sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can trigger muscle spasms.
In order to prioritize her health, Dion revealed she will be rescheduling her 54 European Courage World Tour. “All I knew was singing,” Dion said. “It’s what I’ve been doing all my life and it’s my favorite thing to do. I really miss you. I miss all of you, on stage, performing for you…to see you again, I don’t want to I have no choice but to focus on my health at this moment. I hope I am on the road to recovery.”
Dion has shown resilience in her personal life – she
2023
