I’ve to learn to live with it, Celine Dion speaks on illness
Ailing Canadian megastar Celine Dion is hopeful for a miracle as she suffers from a rare neurological disorder otherwise known as Stiff Person Syndrome.
Celine Dion in her first interview said she has been taking life one day at a time since announcing the career-sidelining diagnosis.
The 56-year-old first disclosed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, which causes stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, with noise or emotional distress known to trigger spasms.
As the cover star of Vogue France’s May edition, she told the magazine she was “well” but that her condition requires “a lot of work.”
“Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical, and vocal therapy.
“I haven’t beat the disease, as it’s still within me and always will be. I hope that we’ll find a miracle, a way to cure it with scientific research, but for now, I have to learn to live with it,” she said.
There is no cure for Stiff Person Syndrome, which is progressive, but treatment can help control symptoms.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, it affects twice as many women as men.
Recall that Dion was forced to cancel several shows slated for 2023 and 2024, saying she was not strong enough to tour.
Asked about her ability to return to the stage, Dion told Vogue France she “can’t answer that” right now.
“I don’t know… My body will tell me,” she said.
Dion made a surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards in February, when she presented the Album of the Year award to Taylor Swift.
The ‘I’m Alive’ crooner announced that she would make a feature-length documentary, to stream on Amazon Prime Video, about her condition to help increase public awareness.
- The Nation
