During a recent interview with Vogue France, Canadian singer Celine Dion got candid about battling Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare, autoimmune disease of the nervous system, as per the Mayo Clinic.
Please note: The original interview was in French. All quotes mentioned here are translations via Google Translate.
In the article published on April 22, Celine Dion stated,
“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.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Celine Dion also talked about life as a woman, her love for music, her tragic personal life, and global stardom, among others.
Celine Dion undergoes regular “athletic, physical, and vocal therapy” to combat Stiff Person Syndrome
Celine Dion is all set to appear on the cover of the May 2024 issue of Vogue France. Before its release, the My Heart Will Go On singer sat for an interview with the magazine’s Clovis Goux to talk about her life, career, and more.
In the article titled, Celine Dion talks beauty secrets with Vogue France: ‘I’m very proud that at 55, I’m being asked to reveal my beauty’, the singer began by discussing her life with Stiff Person Syndrome.
When asked how she braved her rare and autoimmune neurological disorder, she mentioned that she would always have to live with it, but continues to hope for a “miracle” and a “way to cure” with scientific advancement.
“Five days a week, I undergo athletic, physical, and vocal therapy. 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 stated.
The Queen of Power Ballads continued by explaining,
“At the beginning, I would ask myself: ‘Why me? How did this happen? What have I done? Is this my fault?’ Life doesn’t give you answers. You just have to live it! I have this illness for some unknown reason.”
The mother of three explained that she has “two choices” now, either to “train like an athlete and work super hard” to cope with her symptoms, or simply “switch off” and quit, and she chose the former.
Celine Dion mentioned how she missed performing on stage and compensated for it by staying at home, listening to her songs, standing in front of the mirror, and singing to herself.
“I’ve chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!” she added.
When the interviewer Clovis Goux asked, “What helps you the most in this fight?” Celine Dion replied that it was the “love” of her family, children, and fans; as well as the “support” of her team.
The Colour of My Love hitmaker also mentioned how, unlike most people who suffer from Stiff Person Syndrome, she was “lucky” to have access to “good doctors and good treatments,” which she considered a “gift.”
“What’s more, I have this strength within me. I know that nothing is going to stop me,” she further noted.
The Courage singer explained how she has been caught between whether she is ready to be back on stage and start touring for the last few years, but she never has a definite answer to it, as her body makes all the decisions for her.
The multiple-time Grammy winner also clarified how each day was different than the rest, yet, every day was “hard,” adding how she kept her will, passion, dream, and determination alive and was pushing herself one step at a time to try and return to her normal life.
For those uninitiated, Celine Dion announced that she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome via an Instagram video in December 2022. Back then she explained how it was a one-in-a-million case, and her symptom was frequent muscle spasms, which in turn affected her vocal cords during singing.
She also mentioned how she would be taking a break from her career to focus on her health and keep her fans updated on the same from time to time.