Pop megastar Celine Dion, who is suffering from a rare neurological disorder, said in an Instagram post on Saturday, that she looks forward to her return to the stage.
The 55-year-old Dion first revealed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a condition that results in rigid muscles in the arms, legs, and torso. Emotional distress or noise is known to cause spasms in those muscles.
“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,” Dion said in a post late Friday to mark International SPS Awareness Day.
“I want to send my encouragement and support to all those around the world that have been affected by SPS. I want you to know you can do it! We can do it!” added the Grammy-winning singer of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On” and “Because You Loved Me.”
“I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you!” she added in the post, accompanied by a photo of her smiling broadly and posing with her three sons.
Treatment can help control symptoms, but there is no known cure for the progressive disorder known as stiff person syndrome. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected by SPS, according to the US National Institutes of Health.
Dion was forced to postpone a number of her 2023 and 2024 tour dates in May of last year due to her lack of strength.
Dion last appeared in public at the Grammy Awards in February, when she unexpectedly showed up to give Taylor Swift the Album of the Year trophy.
In an effort to raise public awareness, Dion declared in January that she would produce a full-length documentary about her illness, which would be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Over her lengthy career, Dion has sold over 250 million albums. 2019 saw the start of the Quebec native Dion’s “Courage World Tour,” of which she performed 52 dates before the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the remaining dates.
