Celine Dion has been diagnosed with an incurable neurological disease
Jake Massey
Featured Image Credit: Kim Jackson / Alamy Stock Photo
Celine Dion has revealed that she has been diagnosed with an incurable neurological disease.
The singer share the news that she has stiff-person syndrome (SPS) in an emotional Instagram video.
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The 54-year-old 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 now.
"I've been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and its 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 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."
SPS is a progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord, and symptoms include extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, severely impairing mobility, according to the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center.
She continued: "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.
"It hurts me to tell you today that this means I won't be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.
"I have a great team of doctors working alongside me to help me get better and my precious children who are supporting me and giving me help.
"I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again, but I have to admit it’s been a struggle.
"All I know is singing is what I've done all my life and it's what I love to do the most."
She added: "I miss you so much. I miss seeing all of you being on the stage performing for you.
"I always give 100 percent when I do my show but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right now.
"For me to reach you again I have no choice but to concentrate on my health at this moment and I have hope that I'm on the road to recovery. This is my focus and I'm doing everything I can to recuperate.
"I want to thank you so much for your wishes and love and support on my social media. This means a lot to me.
"Take care of yourselves. Be well. I love you guys so much and I really hope I can see you again real soon."