Celine Dion has made a heartbreaking admission as she battles a rare neurological condition. Speaking to Vogue France, the Canadian-born star admitted she wondered, “Why me? What have I done?” when she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). The Grammy Award winner gave fans an update on how she was faring, saying she was “well, but it’s a lot of work”. “I’m taking it one day at a time,” she said, admitting she was still hoping for a “miracle cure” for the condition, which has affected both her singing and her day-to-day life. “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 said. “At the beginning, I would ask myself: ‘Why me? How did this happen? What have I done? Is this my fault?’” Stiff Person Syndrome, or SPS, is characterised by muscle rigidity, heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as sound and lights, and emotional distress that can cause muscle spasms. In December 2022, Dion announced that she was taking time off from performing and recording to focus on her health after receiving the shock diagnosis. “I have this illness for some unknown reason. Life doesn’t give you any answers. You just have to live it,” she said. “The way I see it, I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off, and it’s over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself. 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.” The 56-year-old said the support of her loved ones and her fans was helping her to get through, along with excellent medical care. “People who suffer from SPS may not be lucky enough or have the means to have good doctors and good treatments,” she said. “I have those means, and this is a gift. What’s more, I have this strength within me. I know that nothing is going to stop me.” However, Dion could not say with any certainty if or when she would be able to return to live performances. “I can’t stand here and say to you: ‘Yes, in four months.’ I don’t know … My body will tell me,” she explained. “On the other hand, I don’t just want to wait. I’m working very hard and tomorrow will be even harder. 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.”
Celine Dion Battles Stiff Person Syndrome: ‘Why Me? What Have I Done?’
