Celine Dion: Desafiando las Probabilidades, Reconstruyendo su Voz
As the sun dips behind the mountains in an exclusive Las Vegas neighborhood, a familiar voice can be heard singing behind closed doors. It's the unmistakable sound of Celine Dion, a musical megastar who, until recently, feared her iconic voice might be silenced forever.
"I've been dealing with health problems for a long time," Dion shared in a heartbreaking Instagram video in December 2022. "I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder."
After that devastating announcement, the Canadian songstress pulled out of the remainder of her world tour, and her public appearances have been scarce. But as I sit down with Dion, her cheerful demeanor suggests that she is ready to face her challenges head-on.
The medical name for her little-known illness is Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a neurological condition that causes muscles to spasm uncontrollably. As Dion reveals, the disorder went undiagnosed for years, leaving her bewildered by the changes she noticed in her voice while on tour.
"It was just feeling a little strange, like a little spasm," the 56-year-old explains. "My voice was struggling, I was starting to push a little bit."
Dion demonstrates the subtle difference by singing the opening bars of her 1993 hit "The Power of Love," showing how she had to force her voice to hold notes that once flowed effortlessly.
Occasionally, she would ask her backing musicians' conductor to lower the key of certain songs, hoping that singing fractionally lower might give her voice a chance to recover. But audiences remained oblivious to the struggle she faced behind the scenes.
"These shows were sold out for a year and a half, going around the globe," Dion says. "And I'm going to say to people, 'Excuse me about my spasm? Excuse me about my je ne sais quoi?'"
The pressure to keep the show on the road, despite not understanding the cause of her symptoms, was immense. But eventually, it became too much, and her eventual diagnosis brought the realization that this was not mere tour fatigue but a permanent condition.
SPS is an autoimmune disease that can be debilitating, with no known cure. It is caused by the signals from the nerves to muscles not working properly. During severe episodes, the spasms can be so intense that Dion can barely move.
But with proper diagnosis, she now understands the condition better and can manage it through medication, physical therapy, and the help of experts like Dr. Amanda Piquet.
"Now this disease is gaining public awareness, it's in the public eye," says Dr. Piquet, who has treated several patients who went undiagnosed for years. "We need to diagnose this disease better. When we do, that's going to lead to more clinical trials and more treatments that are approved."
While Dion will live with this condition for the rest of her life, the therapy she is undergoing to lessen the muscle spasms will help her sing on stage again.
"My voice will be rebuilt," Dion says confidently. "I mean, it started a while ago already. My voice is being rebuilt as we speak, right now."
Defying the odds and determined to reclaim her voice, Celine Dion is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. As she continues her journey to regain her strength, her unwavering resolve and the support of her fans and medical professionals will undoubtedly guide her back to the stage, where her legendary voice will once again captivate audiences worldwide.