Celine Dion’s sister, Claudette Dion, says her sister is still battling the exhaustive pain caused by Stiff-Person Syndrome — the neurological disorder that has halted all of Celine’s live performances for the past year.
“It’s an illness we know so little about,” Claudette said in a recent interview with Hello! Canada, telling the publication that her sister’s spasms “are impossible to control.” Stiff Person Syndrome is a progressive disorder that affects the brain and the spinal cord, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Symptoms include muscle rigidity or spasming, which can affect one area or the entire body, enlargement of the muscles and difficulties walking or moving. There is no cure.
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“There’s little we can do to support her, to alleviate her pain,” she continued. “We’re crossing our fingers that researchers will find a remedy for this awful illness.”
Dion had completed 52 dates of the “Courage” tour, which launched in September of 2019 before it was postponed due to the pandemic. She has not performed a concert since then, due to her condition.
In a video message posted to Instagram in December, Dion said the 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.” Because of the impact on her ability to perform, Dion explained, she had no option but to postpone her upcoming “Courage” tour, which was set to begin in February after being postponed three times.
“She’s doing everything to recover,” Claudette said. “She’s a strong woman.”