Celine Dion shared details about her health for the first time in an interview with French Vogue magazine published on April 22. The 56-year-old diva – who is suffering from Stiff Person Syndrome – revealed her treatment process and how she accepted to live with this disease, which has no cure.
“I have not defeated the disease, it is still in me and always will be,” said Celine Dion. “I hope we will find a miracle, a method to cure it through scientific research. But now I have to learn to live with it – Stiff Man Syndrome”.
The female singer said she spends 5 days a week on sports, physical and vocal therapies. Celine exercises her toes, knees, calves, fingers and voice.
Psychological struggle is also something Celine Dion has experienced. She said: “I had to learn to live with the disease and stop questioning myself. At first I always asked myself: Why me? How did this happen? What did I do? This Is it my fault? But life doesn’t give you any answers. You can only live with it! I have this disease for unknown reasons. In my view, there are two options: Either I train like an athlete and work hard, or I give up and end up, at home listening to my songs, singing to myself in front of the mirror”.
Celine said she did her best, mentally and physically, with the help of the medical team. The female artist always tries to do the best she can and hopes to achieve her goals.
While stubbornly fighting the disease, Celine Dion still finds it difficult to answer whether she will perform or tour again. “For four years, I told myself I wouldn’t be able to return, then I felt ready and then I couldn’t,” Celine confided. “When things haven’t progressed, I can’t sit here and say I’ll be back in the next few months”.
Celine said that in this fight, she is not alone because she has great support from her family, her sons, the love of her fans and a team of good doctors. “I’m lucky to have good doctors and good treatments. Those things are truly a privilege for me. Furthermore, I have inner strength. I know nothing can stop me” , she said.
Celine Dion was diagnosed with the disease in 2021 and has since canceled tours to focus on treatment. Stiff person syndrome is defined by the Cleveland Clinic as “an autoimmune movement disorder that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms.” Usually triggered by environmental factors such as sudden movements, cold temperatures or sudden loud noises, this disease is considered rare, with an incidence of only about 1/1,000,000 people There is a way to completely cure the disease.
