Despite her health issues, Celine Dion spread joy this holiday season.
Dion returned to social media with a new Christmas post after revealing that she suffers from Stiff Person Syndrome. To commemorate the holiday season, the singer shared a video message with her fans. She delivered the message in both English and French.
She said:
“Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you love, happiness, the best of health. See you soon. Bye Bye!”
Fans also sent her heartfelt Christmas greetings and wished her a speedy recovery and good health.
Although it was her first video message after uploading a clip about her health, her social media team shared a separate post during the 25th anniversary of the “Titanic” film. “My Heart Will Go On,” the singer’s iconic song, was featured in the hit film.
Her new post alleviated some of her fans’ concerns after she canceled her European tour dates due to a health diagnosis. Dion revealed that she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder.
The cause of the rare disease is unknown, according to Yale Medicine, but the illness causes spasms and rigidity in the muscles of the limbs and torso. The spasms can be triggered by a variety of factors, including loud noises, emotional distress, and other specific stimuli, but they can also occur at random.
Meanwhile, neurologist Richard Nowak said:
“People with Stiff Person Syndrome can run the spectrum from mild to severe, and a personalized approach to treating the disease is the best way to ensure an improved outcome.”
Despite this, the “To Love You More” singer is said to be eager to return to the stage.
A source told People:
“It’s been a very difficult time and she has a hard road ahead of her, but she is doing everything she can to get back on stage and see her fans. They have always been there for her. For now, she is focusing on her health and her children. She is the picture of resilience.”
Dion has been putting on a brave face, which inspires her fans who know what she has been through in recent years. She lost both her husband, René Angélil, and her brother Daniel to cancer within a week of each other in 2006.
In addition, the singer had several surgeries and dealt with other issues such as patulous eustachian tube dysfunction and muscle spasms.