TRAGIC CELINE MAY NEVER SING AGAIN!
Losing control of vocal cords while fighting nerve disease
STRICKEN Celine Dion’s ongoing battle with crippling stiff-person syndrome — an incurable neurological disease — has taken a heartbreaking turn, according to sources who say the ailing vocalist fears she’ll never sing for her fans again!
Claudette Dion, one of the My Heart Will Go On artist’s 13 older siblings, reveals Celine, 55, is “working hard” — but “she doesn’t have control over her muscles — vocal cords are muscles.”
Just over a year ago, Celine revealed she’d been diagnosed with the rare disorder, which causes the body to attack its own nerve cells, freezing muscles and causing spasms so violent they can shatter bones! Determined Dion has enlisted doctors and physical therapists to help combat the condition’s worst effects — but the hitmaker’s sister says her prognosis is not promising.
Claudette, 74, explains, “It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know.” Although many patients with stiff-person syndrome are often resigned to life in a wheelchair, a source tells The National ENQUIRER its devastating impact on Celine’s once angelic voice is causing the performer the most anguish.
“Celine would be content to just sit in a chair and sing to entertain her audiences,” the insider notes. “But her voice is just not coming back the way that would allow her to perform or record again. She has spasms in her vocal cords. She can sing fine — just like you know Celine — for a few notes, then a spasm kicks in and throws what she’s singing completely out of whack.
“Sadly, it doesn’t seem to be repairable — whether through surgery or therapy.”
The ordeal is just the latest tragedy to hit the Canadian wonder, who lost hubby René Angélil, 73, father of her sons, René-Charles, 22, and 13-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy, in 2016.
Renowned longevity expert Dr. Gabe Mirkin tells The ENQUIRER Celine’s stiff-person syndrome likely preys on her mind as much as her body.
“It certainly is depressing to lose your great skill and your claim to fame,” Mirkin says. “Medicine doesn’t have an answer for it. The problem is you can’t bring things back with this disease — the damage is done and only gets worse.”