Celine Dion is ‘Working Hard’ and ‘Learning From the World’s Best Doctors’ After Being Diagnosed With Stiff Person Syndrome

In an interview with French newspaper Le Journal de Montreal last month, Claudette Dion provided a brief update on the health of her younger sister, Celine Dion, amid her ongoing battle with stiff person syndrome. The 55-year-old announced her diagnosis in December after years of keeping it a secret. 

“When I call, and Celine is busy I talk to my sister Linda, who lives with her, who tells me she is working hard,” Claudette said – adding that her sister is currently ‘studying and learning from the world’s best doctors specialized in this rare disease.’ As far as what she thinks her sister has to do – she says rest.

“She’s spent all her life above it all, trying to be the biggest and strongest. At some point, your ‘little’ heart and ‘little’ body is speaking to you. It’s important,” Claudette continued in her interview. “We trust her. It is within her. She has always been very disciplined at everything she’s ever accomplished in her life.”

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According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a ‘rare, progressive neurological disorder’ that can often cause stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, and also result in a ‘greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress’ – which could trigger or set off muscle spasms. 

As the disease progresses, people often find it difficult to move and/or walk – which, in turn, increases the likelihood of falls and subsequent injuries from those falls. In many cases, those struggling with SPS try to avoid leaving the house out of fear – knowing that something as harmless as a car horn could trigger it.

Celine Dion announced her diagnosis on Instagram in December – which she posted in both English and French. While it was the first her fans were hearing of her health struggles, it’s something she claimed to be dealing with for quite some time. Now that it’s affecting her performance, she wanted to explain why.