Celine Dion's sister has shared an update on the singer's condition amid her ongoing health battle.
Speaking to Le Journal de Montreal via SheMazing, Claudette Dion opened up about the impact of stiff person syndrome which her sister was diagnosed with in December 2022.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, stiff person syndrome is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that affects one's daily life.
Symptoms may include things like stiff muscles in the trunk (torso), arms, and legs as well as greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms.
The organization also reports that over time, things can continue to get worse to the point where some people may be unable to walk or move, resulting in serious injuries due to the impact it has on normal reflexes.
Claudette revealed that their sister Linda has now moved into Celine’s home, where she also lives with her three sons René-Charles, Eddy, and Nelson.
"When I call her and she's busy, I speak to my sister Linda who lives with her and tells me that she's working hard. She's listening to the top researchers in the field of this rare disease as much as possible,” Claudette expressed.
She then went on to explain that 'The Power Of Love' singer had no choice but to cancel her world tour because of her battles.
"I honestly think that she mostly needs to rest. She always goes above and beyond, she always tries to be the best and top of her game. At one point, your heart and your body are trying to tell you something. It's important to listen to it," Claudette added.
"It's innate to her, she's disciplined in every area of her life...We can't find any medicine that works, but having hope is important," the concerned sibling concluded.
Last year, the Grammy-award winner took to Instagram to talk about prioritising her health during this difficult time, saying: "Hello everyone, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reach out to you. I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person."
She continued: "I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it has been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through. Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome which affects 1 in a million people."
When discussing how the disease has impacted aspects of her life, the star said: "Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I'm used to."
Celine expressed that canceling the tour was no easy decision and that she felt "tremendous disappointment" in having to do so.
"I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again. I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%," she wrote.
Our thoughts are with the star during this difficult time.
