'Selindion' with Rare Disease Affecting 8,000 Worldwide: "Spasms Start in Throat, But..."

World-renowned pop star representing Canada, Celine Dion (56), opened up about her feelings in her first TV interview since battling illness.

On the 7th (local time), Yonhap News reported that Dion described her condition as "feeling like someone is choking my throat" in a preview of her interview with NBC's flagship anchor Hoda Kotb.

Celine Dion attending the 2019 Paris Fashion Week in France
[Photo by EPA, Yonhap News Archive]

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In the interview preview set to air on the 11th, Dion explained her symptoms, saying, "It feels like someone is pressing on my larynx and pharynx," adding, "I can't raise or lower my voice."

Earlier, in December 2022, Dion announced on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder. This disease causes muscle stiffness throughout the body and muscle spasms triggered by auditory, tactile, or emotional stimuli. It is a rare disease with only about 8,000 patients worldwide.

In her first TV interview since revealing her illness, Dion said, "The spasms start in my throat," and added, "I try to think 'It will be okay,' but the spasms can occur in my abdomen, spine, or ribs."

She continued, "When I stretch my legs straight, it feels like they will stay fixed in that position. I love cooking, but when I cook, my fingers and hands stiffen and I can't relax them," she said. "When the joints stiffen severely, ribs can break. I have actually broken a rib once," she confessed.

Celine Dion in a healthy appearance singing on stage.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

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Earlier in May, Amazon's streaming platform Prime Video released a trailer for the documentary 'I Am: Celine Dion' on its YouTube channel.

In it, Dion reflected on her life, saying, "My voice is the conductor of my life." Recalling her energetic performances, she tearfully said, "I miss it so much. I want to see the audience. I will not stop."

Also, in an April interview with Vogue France, she shared an update, saying, "I exercise five days a week and receive physical and vocal therapy. Now I have to learn to live with the illness." She added, "At first, I asked myself, 'Why me?' 'How did this happen?' 'Is it my fault?' But life doesn't give you any answers. You just live."

Born in Quebec, Canada, Dion debuted in 1981 and has been active as a singer for over 40 years. Known for her powerful vocals, she was called one of the 'world's top three divas' alongside Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. She has won five Grammy Awards and two Academy Awards for Best Original Song, including the hit 'My Heart Will Go On,' the theme song of the movie Titanic.

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