Celine Dion’s Courageous Battle Against Stiff Person Syndrome Got Worse

Celine Dion’s older sister, Claudette, has shared that Celine’s battle with a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome has gotten worse. According to Claudette, the My Heart Will Go On singer has lost “control over her muscles.”

At 55 years old, Celine had to make the difficult decision to cancel her world tour in December due to her ongoing struggle with stiff person syndrome, a progressive and incurable condition that causes the body to attack its own nerve cells, severely affecting mobility.

Claudette, 74, opened up about her sibling’s condition and the emotional toll it has taken on their family, saying, “She’s working hard, but she doesn’t have control over her muscles. What breaks my heart is that she’s always been disciplined, always worked hard. Our mother always told her, ‘You’re going to do it well, you’re going to do it properly.'”

Both Claudette and Celine share the dream of her returning to the stage, but according to Claudette, the uncertainty of when and in what capacity remains. Stiff person syndrome is incredibly rare, with only one in a million cases, making research progress slow. 

Claudette expressed her concern further, saying, “The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what comes to get me. Because it’s 1 out of a million cases, the scientists haven’t done that much research because it didn’t affect that many people.”

Despite the challenges, Celine’s family charity, Fondation Maman Dion, has been flooded with messages of support from fans who are keeping the star in their prayers. Claudette emphasized, “Some people have lost hope because it’s an illness that isn’t well known. If only you knew the number of phone calls the Foundation gets about Celine!”

“People tell us they love her and they’re praying for her. She gets so many messages, presents and blessed crucifixes,” she added.

Claudette, while acknowledging that they have worked with top researchers in the field, admitted that they haven’t found a medicine that works yet but stressed the importance of holding onto hope. 

Stiff person syndrome can turn sufferers into ‘human statues,’ making walking and talking a daily challenge. It’s an exceptionally rare condition, mostly affecting women between the ages of 30-50. Celine first shared her diagnosis in December 2022 and later had to cancel her world tour that was set to kick off in 2023.

Rumors regarding Celine’s condition spread on social media, suggesting she was bound to a wheelchair and struggling to move. However, Claudette firmly denied these claims, saying, “I know that morally, mentally, she is strong. She is not depressed at all…she really has the joy of living. We will get through this.”

The I’m Alive hitmaker is also reportedly still holding on to hopes to return to stage someday.