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.
12 Comics That Show the Real Struggles of Modern Women
Each modern woman has their own struggles when it comes to their family or job. Yet, there are some things that many of us can relate to and they would seem annoying if they weren’t so funny, like going to the shop to buy shoes but ending up with 3 sweaters instead.
We at Bright Side know that modern women are powerful, but we think there should still be a place for humor in their lives. Here you can find 12 comics about girls and their funny problems.
1. When you have to wear a strapless bra to show your beautiful back
2. When you decided you want to wear a dress today
3. When you bought a new red lipstick but figured out that it’s not as provocative as you thought
4. When you decided to make a nice dinner for yourself
5. When you chose XS instead of S hoping your diet worked
6. When it’s time for the most important beauty procedure
7. When you spend an hour trying to curl your hair
8. When you start doubting that all your beauty products actually work
9. When you bought a subscription to yoga classes and have to force yourself to go after work
10. When your photographer for official documents didn’t show you the pic before printing it
11. When your deodorant is magically visible on every item of clothing you own
12. When depression arrives and you need a change
What is the funny little struggle that you face often? What do you think about the life of modern women? Is it easier than before?
Got some cool photos or stories and want to be featured on Bright Side? Send them all right HERE and right now. Meanwhile, we’re waiting!
Leave a Reply