Claudette, the older sister of renowned Canadian singer Celine Dion, has shared distressing news about the artist’s health.
Reportedly, Celine is grappling with stiff person syndrome, a progressive and incurable neurological disorder that has left her without control over her muscles.
Following the cancellation of her world tour in December, Claudette, 74, expressed concerns about Celine’s return to the stage, emphasizing the challenges posed by the debilitating condition.
Stiff person syndrome triggers the body to attack its nerve cells, severely affecting mobility.
Speaking to Daily Mail on Monday, Claudette shared, “She works hard, but she has no control over her muscles. What breaks my heart is that she has always been disciplined.
She has always worked hard.” She continued, expressing uncertainty about Celine’s future on stage, stating, “It is true that in our dreams as well as in hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? Don’t know.”
Research into the rare condition is ongoing, but its scarcity has impeded progress. Claudette highlighted the lack of extensive research due to its rarity, noting, “The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is a muscle too. This is what’s coming for me. Because it’s a 1 in a million case, the scientists didn’t do that much research because it didn’t affect that many people.”
Celine’s charity, Fondation Maman Dion, has received an outpouring of support from well-wishers, with Claudette sharing, “Some people have lost hope because they are all diseases that are not well known. If you only knew how many calls the Foundation gets about Celine! People tell us they love her and are praying for her. She gets so many messages, presents, and blessed crucifixes.”
Despite working with top researchers, little improvement has been observed in Celine’s health. Claudette acknowledged the challenges, stating, “We can’t find any medicine that works, but having hope is important.” In October, Claudette noted that Celine was not yet reliant on a wheelchair and was still aspiring to perform again.
