Celine Dion is seen having a terrible seizure in one of the scariest images from her highly-watched documentary on Amazon Prime.
Stiff Person Syndrome is an uncommon and chronic neurological illness that causes painful spasms that cause the body to become inflexible.
That beautiful voice, familiar to millions worldwide, is heard wailing in despair.
There is no better way to commemorate the start of the Paris Olympics than with a gold medal-winning performance by the 56-year-old singer, who has overcome illness two years later with the same tenacity and resolve as any elite athlete.
Her victorious comeback to the stage at the opening ceremony on Friday night in the French capital raised public concerns that one of the world’s most well-known singers may never again pursue her career due to her incurable autoimmune condition.
But as anyone who watched the documentary ‘I Am: Celine Dion’ will know, even when her health was at its lowest, leaving her struggling to move and even to sing, the star refused to give up.
‘If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. But I won’t stop,’ she said during one of her darkest moments.
With an intense desire to return, Dion has been getting physical and voice treatment every day for the past three months. She is fighting against a very uncommon illness that only affects one person in a million and was first diagnosed in 1956.
As recently as April, she told French Vogue that she didn’t know when she would return to the stage but added: ‘There’s one thing that will never stop, and that’s the will. It’s the passion. It’s the dream. It’s the determination.’
Words like these will surely resonate with the hundreds of world-class athletes who are set to compete for medals in the next two weeks.
The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, and Fortius—Faster, Higher, Stronger—might even have been written for the Canadian star, who has battled miscarriage, infertility, IVF, and bereavement, as well as ill health.
No wonder the French were so desperate to have her in Paris on Friday night, dressed in Dior, belting out the iconic Gallic song ‘La Vie En Rose’ in a voice millions of fans feared they would never hear again. Who better to embody the Olympic spirit and light up the greatest sporting event in the world?
Until the final minute, Dion’s major role in the opening ceremony remained a secret. In an interview with TV channel France 2, President Macron declined to say whether or not she would be performing, even after she was photographed in Paris earlier this week.
It was definitely worth seeing Celine Dion through to the very end. She knocked it out of the ballpark, especially what she’s had to go through, and it was amazing to hear and see; it brought me to tears, and I hope that she continues to improve.
She was so brave to make the comeback, especially on such a big stage. It could have all gone wrong, but she was sensational, and she set an example for those suffering in life from autoimmune diseases.
She is a true professional and deserves our utmost respect! This woman has lived 100 lifetimes. She is beautiful, courageous, and resilient, and she performed a flawless performance at the Olympics.
Bravo, Celine. C’est fantastique!!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 