Celine’s sister recently provided an update on the singer’s ongoing struggle with “stiff person syndrome,” a progressive neurological disorder that has advanced to a stage where she has lost control over her muscles.
“She’s working hard, but she doesn’t have control over her muscles,” Claudette Dion, 74, who is the singer’s older sister, told the French-language publication 7jours, according to a translation in the U.K. Daily Mail.
“What breaks my heart is that she’s always been disciplined. She’s always worked hard,” she said.
She cast doubt on any return to performing, saying, “It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know.”
Claudette Dion said the progress of the disease is uncertain because it is so rare.
“The vocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. This is what comes to get me. Because it’s one out of a million case, the scientists haven’t done that much research because it didn’t affect that many people,” she said.
Why, out of all people, must someone as gifted as Celine Dion be burdened with such a rare and unforgiving disease?
Witnessing her immense talent and voice being stripped away like this is truly heartbreaking.
