Celine Dion is giving fans an honest look at her life with stiff person syndrome.
In a new documentary, the famous singer experiences a scary medical crisis during a physical therapy session, and it’s all caught on camera.
In 2022, Dion revealed she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. In the documentary, “I Am: Celine Dion,” she shares that she had been dealing with symptoms of this rare, progressive neurological disorder for 17 years.
“I need my instrument. And my instrument was not working. So we started to elevate the medicine,” Dion, 56, said after struggling to hit certain notes during her 2018 and 2019 tours.
Though she completed her 2018 tour, Dion had to postpone several dates from her 2019 tour due to the “common cold” before the pandemic shut it down.
Her tour resumed in 2022, but she had to keep canceling and rescheduling shows. It wasn’t until she announced her diagnosis that she officially canceled the rest of her appearances.
“I can’t lie anymore,” Dion says in the documentary. “From a sinus infection to an ear infection to whatever. Sometimes I would point my microphone toward the audience, and I would make them sing it. There are moments where I cheated and I tapped on the microphone like it was the microphone’s fault.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Celine Dion performs live at Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park at Hyde Park on July 05, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Redferns)
In the documentary, there’s a part where Dion shows a very personal moment. She’s lying on a massage table doing exercises for her physical therapy when her foot suddenly starts to cramp. Soon after, her whole body tightens up and she can’t move or talk to the people around her.
The camera keeps recording as another person from her medical team rushes in with a nasal spray called benzodiazepine. They give it to Dion, who’s in so much pain that she’s crying, even though she can’t move. It’s really hard to watch this part of the video.
Once the spasms have subsided – they typically last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour – Dion is able to sit up and speak.
“Every time something like this happens, it makes me feel so embarrassed,” she says. “I don’t know how to express it, you know, to not have control over yourself.”
Her physical therapist speculates the attack was brought on by being “overstimulated” from an earlier singing session.
“If I can’t get stimulated by what I love, then I’m going to go on stage, and you’re going to put the pulse oximeter on me and turn me on my back?” she wonders.
Dion hopes that one day soon she’ll be able to return to the stage.
First public statement from Prince William on his wife and father, King Charles
With King Charles receiving weekly treatments for his cancer in London, his son Prince William has taken upon himself to step in for his father and the crown and fulfill the royal duties.
What’s most, William is also busy being there for his wife who’s currently recuperating from her planned abdominal surgery and taking care of the children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Recently, William attended an event to raise money for London’s Air Ambulance. There, he spoke of his wife and father and thanked everyone for “the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days.”
Among the rest of the attendees, there was actor Tom Cruise whom the Prince joked with saying he shouldn’t “borrow” any of the helicopters.
“If you wouldn’t mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission Impossible, it would be appreciated,” the Prince said.
“We have all seen on our screens that, how can I put it, you seem to have a different take on normal wear and tear to the rest of us,” he stated.
Speaking of the importance of the event, William said, “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!
“But, seriously, we gather tonight to help as many as people as possible benefit from top class care in the silhouette of London Air Ambulance’s flying lifelines. As a former pilot for East Anglia Air Ambulance, I know just how vital the work of air ambulance teams across the country is, and the truly life-saving difference it can make to deliver urgent medical care wherever injury strikes can make.
“Here in London, the current aircraft have served magnificently. But our capital city needs a new fleet. And we are Up Against Time. The clue really is in the Appeal’s name. By September, we need the two new red birds – decked with the latest kit such as night vision – in our skies.
The prince was also seen talking with Ellen Convery, who used to be known as Ellen White and played more than 100 games for the England women’s football team.
While receiving treatment, King Charles will not be attending public events. Between treatments, he’s spending time at the Sandringham estate.
Details of the type of cancer he has been diagnosed with have not been disclosed with the public.
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