Celine Dion shares heartbreaking 'challenge' in stiff person syndrome battle
Celine Dion insisted she won’t let her ongoing health struggles “define” her as she vowed to return to the stage.
The 55-year-old singer announced she was taking time off and would be postponing all her shows after she revealed her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022. Celine was heartbroken as she confirmed the sad news that she would be taking an indefinite break from performing as the rare condition did not allow her “to sing the way I’m used to.”
Now, her journey has been chronicled in a new Amazon Prime documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, and she remained optimistic that she would be back on stage once again. “This last couple of years has been such a challenge for me, the journey from discovering my condition to learning how to live with and manage it, but not to let it define me,” she wrote in a post on Instagram as she announced the new documentary.
READ MORE: Inside Celine Dion's devastating health battle as she no longer has control over muscles
The iconic singer has vowed to return to the stage (AFP via Getty Images)“As the road to resuming my performing career continues, I have realised how much I have missed it, of being able to see my fans,” Celine added. She hoped that the documentary would “raise awareness of this little-known condition, to help others who share this diagnosis.” Stiff person syndrome is a rare autoimmune movement disorder that affects the nervous system, and is a progressive disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord.
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The documentary spans 12 months of Celine’s life and includes never-before-seen moments as the legendary singer tries to come to terms with her diagnosis. Dubbed an “emotional, energetic, and poetic love letter to music”, it captures Celine as she “navigates her journey toward living an open and authentic life amidst illness,” a press release stated.
Celine is the subject of a new documentary (Getty Images)
The award-winning singer has cancelled all her concerts until 2025 (Getty Images)Celine has struggled with the disease for quite some time, and in 2021, was forced to postpone her Las Vegas residency to focus on her health. Just one year later, she announced her diagnosis, and cancelled all of her world tour dates for 2023 and 2024. “While we're still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what has been causing all of the spasms I've been having,” she said at the time.
“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to,” Celine explained. Her older sister Claudette reassured fans as she Hello! Canada the My Heart Will Go On hitmaker was “doing everything to recover, she’s a strong woman.” The candid documentary is directed by Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Irene Taylor, and will be available to watch on Amazon Prime Video later this year.
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