Celina Dion has shared a devastating update amid her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.
In 2022, the 'My Heart Will Go On' hitmaker revealed in a video posted on her social media that she had been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease known as Stiff Person Syndrome.
Watch Dion's heartbreaking address below:She said: "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. As you know I've always been an open book and I wasn't ready to say anything before but I'm ready."
"Recently I've been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff-person syndrome which affects one in a million people. While we're still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what's been causing all the spasms I've been having," she added.
The 56-year-old songstress emphasized in her emotional address that she wants to continue her career in the music industry.
"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," she added.
SPS is "characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms," according to Brain Facts.
A year on from her devastating diagnosis, the singer graced the cover of French Vogue - marking her decisive return to the limelight.
During her interview with the publication, she opened up about her health battle, revealing: "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. So that’s me, now with Stiff Person Syndrome," she said.
Dion revealed that for five days a week, she undergoes "athletic, physical, and vocal therapy," saying: “I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice… I have to learn to live with it now and stop questioning myself."
She then heartbreakingly shared that at the beginning of her diagnosis, she would often ask herself "Why me? How did this happen? What have I done? Is this my fault?".
“Life doesn’t give you any answers. You just have to live it. I have this illness for some unknown reason," the artist noted.
The 'Power Of Love' vocalist then candidly spoke about how she lives her life now, and said she feels as if she only has two choices: “Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over.”
Dion then disclosed that amid her battle, she's "working very hard and tomorrow will be even harder. Tomorrow is another day," adding: “But there's one thing that will never stop, and that’s the will. It’s the passion. It's the dream. It’s the determination.”
Though the Grammy-winning star couldn’t state when or even whether she’ll be ready to perform again, she emphasized the “gift” of support from her family and “the means to have good doctors and good treatments".
“What’s more, I have this strength within me,” Dion concluded. “I know that nothing is going to stop me."
