Celine Dion Shares Moving Instagram Post on Stiff Person Syndrome Awareness Day
"I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you!"
Singer Celine Dion says being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is one of the "hardest experiences of my life" in an emotional Instagram post.
"As many of you know, in the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS)," the "My Heart Will Go On" singer wrote on Instagram, in recognition of International SPS Awareness Day.
"Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the hardest experiences of my life, but I remain determined to one day get back onto the stage and to live as normal of a life as possible," she continued. "I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you!"
The moving Instagram caption accompanied a photo of the singer posing alongside her three children—René-Charles Angélil, 23, and 13-year-old twins Eddy and Nelson.
A photo posted by celinedion on
Stiff person syndrome is a rare autoimmune and neurological disorder that causes random muscle stiffness and painful spasms that often worsen over time, according to Johns Hopkins.
Dion shared her diagnosis with the public in December, 2022 with an emotional video posted on her Instagram account.
"I've been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it's been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I've been going through," the award-winning singer said, at times fighting back tears.
"It hurts me to tell you that I won't be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February," she continued. "Recently, I've been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition called stiff-person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people. While we're still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is what has been causing all of the spasms that I've been having."
A photo posted by celinedion on
According to the Stiff Person Syndrome Foundation, SPS impacts the central nervous system—specifically the brain and spinal cord. As a result, people diagnosed with SPS can become bed-ridden, wheelchair-bound and disabled, and may not be able to work or care for themselves independently.
The foundation adds that common symptoms of the disease include "hyper-rigidity, debilitating pain, chronic anxiety," and muscle spasms "so violent they can dislocate joints and even break bones."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Danielle Campoamor is Marie Claire's weekend editor covering all things news, celebrity, politics, culture, live events, and more. In addition, she is an award-winning freelance writer and former NBC journalist with over a decade of digital media experience covering mental health, reproductive justice, abortion access, maternal mortality, gun violence, climate change, politics, celebrity news, culture, online trends, wellness, gender-based violence and other feminist issues. You can find her work in The New York Times, Washington Post, TIME, New York Magazine, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, TODAY, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, InStyle, Playboy, Teen Vogue, Glamour, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Prism, Newsweek, Slate, HuffPost and more. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and their two feral sons. When she is not writing, editing or doom scrolling she enjoys reading, cooking, debating current events and politics, traveling to Seattle to see her dear friends and losing Pokémon battles against her ruthless offspring. You can find her on X, Instagram, Threads, Facebook and all the places.
-
Nutritionist Gabriela Peacock Reveals How She's Helping "Dear Friend" Princess Beatrice During Her Second Pregnancy
"It's been truly wonderful to share this journey with someone so close."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Angelina Jolie Says Motherhood Keeps Her From Feeling Lonely
"My work is not everything. Being a parent is everything."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Princess Kate Stresses the "Importance of Love" During the "Most Difficult Times" in Emotional Christmas Letter
"Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times."
By Danielle Campoamor Published