While speaking out about her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), Celine Dion is devoting her resources to finding a cure.
The beloved Canadian singer, 56, made a significant $2 million donation to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where Dr. Amanda Piquet is treating her for this rare condition.
“I am incredibly honored to receive this recognition to advance the field with this research,” said Dr. Piquet, director of Autoimmune Neurology at CU Anschutz, in an interview with CBS News.
“Stiff-person syndrome is a progressive autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by two cardinal features: muscle spasms and rigidity,” he explained.
Dr Piquet, who is leading research into SPS, explained that the disease can “take years to get a diagnosis”, adding: “The average time frame is seven years.”
Céline Dion has made a significant donation of $2 million to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where Dr. Amanda Piquet is treating her for this rare disease.
Dr. Piquet recalled how Dion came to her care. “She found us by chance and it was a great relationship. We worked very hard to help her manage those symptoms and get her on the right path to treatment,” she said.
He also recalled how Dion came under his care. “She found us and it was a great relationship, and we worked really hard to get those symptoms under control and get her on a good treatment path,” Dr. Piquet said.
‘There are no FDA-approved therapies for this disease. We often use immunotherapies and symptomatic therapies to control the disease.
“We’ll also be doing things like physical therapy, massage therapy and, in Celine’s case, vocal therapy to help manage the symptoms,” he added.
Dion previously praised Dr. Piquet at the world premiere of her new documentary I Am: Celine Dion.“She has replaced my fear with hope,” he said.
The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ artist explored her journey with the diagnosis in the documentary, which includes footage of a 10-minute seizure she suffered.
She announced her SPS diagnosis in December 2022 after “dealing with health issues for a long time,” writing: “IIt has been very difficult for me to face my challenges and talk about everything I have been going through.
‘I was recently diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome, which affects one in a million people.
“Although we are still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is what has been causing all the spasms I’ve been having,” she continued.
Dion detailed the condition: “Unfortunately, these spasms affect all aspects of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing as I’m used to.”
Dion previously praised Dr Piquet at the world premiere of her new documentary I Am: Celine Dion. “She has replaced my fear with hope,” she said.
The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ artist explored her journey with the diagnosis in the documentary, which includes footage of a 10-minute seizure she suffered.
She announced her PSS diagnosis in December 2022 after “dealing with health issues for a long time,” subsequently cancelling her Courage World Tour.
The Grammy winner subsequently had to cancel her Courage World Tour in March 2023.
This month, Dion explained why she decided to share her diagnosis after 17 years. “Lying for me was… The burden was too much,” she said on Today.
“Lying to the people that got me to where I am today, I couldn’t do it anymore,” Dion added. “I couldn’t do this anymore.”