Céline Dion Reveals She’s Suffering From A Rare Neurological Condition
She took to social media yesterday to share with fans that she’ll be postponing the dates of her European tour due to her on-going health issues
Bazaar Arabia shares everything we know about Céline Dion’s syndrome (Stiff Person Syndrome.)
I often refer to Céline Dion as one of Canada’s national treasures. Despite being born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia on the West Coast of this great country – 3,972 km away from her hometown of Charlemagne, Quebec – her music was a constant in my life growing up. The Power of Love was my parents’ first dance song when they go married; I belted out My Heart Will Go On during karaoke sessions with friends at basement parties in my pre-teen years.
You see, for us Canadians, Céline is so much more than just another iconic performer, decked out in fabulous outfits with an impressive vocal range. She’s an important part of our national identity, one of the few great figures in pop culture we can truly claim as our own. Therefore, yesterday evening, when I came across the video she shared with her fans on social media my heart broke for her.
“You know I’m an open book…” she said at the beginning, in a somber tone of voice, sharing with fans that she suffers from a condition that little is known about. Céline’s Syndrome – Stiff Person Syndrome – is affecting her ability to perform and, subsequently, she’s having to postpone her European tour dates.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” she wrote in the caption. “It hurts me to tell you that I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”
Watch the full video below.
Céline did stress she is working with a great team of doctors to overcome her health setback, however, the condition makes it difficult for her to do her job as a performer.
What is Stiff Person Syndrome?
There is little known about the neurological disorder which affects about one in a million people, according to Céline herself. Essentially, muscle spasms occur in the torso and limbs of the body, often triggered by certain stimuli (like loud noises) or emotional stress, according to Yale Medicine.
Eventually, the muscles gradually relax as the stimuli are reduced – but for a performer like Céline, this sort of medical condition could greatly impact her ability to sing for audiences live on stage.
When will Céline Dion go back on tour?
At the moment, the Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter has not yet shared when she thinks she’ll be able to return to the road – and understandably so. At the moment, she’s clearly prioritizing her health.
Check back soon for more details.
Lead image courtesy of Getty
