Emotional Celine Dion hailed ‘true fighter’ as she sobs through return to stage after battle with stiff-person syndrome
AN emotional Celine Dion has been hailed a ‘true fighter’ as she sobbed through her return to stage after her battle with stiff-person syndrome.
The singer, 58, who was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune neurological disorder in 2022, is performing at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, tonight.
According to Patient Info, SPS “is a very rare, long-term condition that causes painful muscle spasms and debilitating muscle stiffness”.
When she revealed her diagnosis, Celine cancelled all of her tour dates for 2023 and 2024, but in March this year it was reported that she was going to return to stage for her first tour in six years.
Talking to her fans at the venue, which has a capacity of 40,000, Celine said: “I had promised myself not to cry.
“I don’t keep my promises. But I’m so happy to see you all.
What is stiff person syndrome?
Stiff person syndrome or SPS is a condition caused by persistent spasms.
This usually involves multiple muscles, primarily the lower limbs, experts at University College London say.
Most people who develop the illness will receive a diagnosis from the ages of 40-60-years-old.
It’s a neurological disease with features of autoimmune conditions.
The first signs would be intermittent spasms which then become continuous.
Other symptoms include:
Minor sensory stimuli (being more sensitive to noise, light and touch)
Severe spasms
Impaired breathing (in advanced cases).
The experts said that spasms don’t usually occur during your sleep.
How is it treated?
In most cases people with SPS respond to high doses of diazepam, which is often used as anti anxiety medication.
Pain relievers will also improve the symptoms but these will not cure the disorder.
Many people with SPS will experience falls because they lack defensive reflexes, experts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke added.
“I missed you. I’m going to sing like you without crying.”
Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their love and support towards the star.
One said: “You really did it Celine Dion! Thank you for coming back, you did better than ever legend.”
“What a come back! Celine Dion in Paris – powerful, emotional and simply unforgettable. A true legend,” another wrote.
A third added: “The best to ever do it has returned! Great to see Celine back after so many health challenges and she still sounds amazing.”
A fourth chimed in: “I admire her strength, her courage and her incredible talent.”
A fifth said: “So happy for Celine Dion. All she wanted is go back on stage. She did it. What a fighter!”
Celine will be performing another 25 shows at the arena.
Her last date this year is October 17, and then she will return next year in May for her remaining gigs.
It comes after she made her made her first public performance after revealing she is living with SPS when she closed the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris for the 2024 Olympics.
Some of Celine’s songs include My Heart Will Go On, The Power of Love and All By Myself.