Celine Dion sings at hockey game in first public appearance amid stiff-person syndrome diagnosis
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Celine Dion while making her first public appearance in almost four years surprised everyone by singing.
Chantal Machabee, vice president of hockey communications for the Canadiens, said she looked “so happy,” during her performance.
Celine Dion delights everyone with her singing during rare public appearance
The Canadian icon showed up at a hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montreal Canadiens.
"She's been through a lot, and to see her like this and smiling and being so happy...it's amazing," Machabee said.
The artist shared her debilitating stiff-person syndrome diagnosis last year. "I know she has good days and not so good days, but this was a very good day, and it was reassuring."
Machabee continued, “a few notes came out, It was an incredible moment. She's an amazing woman."
View this post on Instagram
After Dion had her visit with the team in the locker room shaking hands with the player, Machabee posted images online.
"We had a beautiful visit at the game in Vegas yesterday. Thanks @celinedion for your generosity. The whole team is so happy to have met you and your family," she wrote in French alongside the images.
As per a source, Dion was "doing everything she can" to be healthy enough to perform live at the earliest after canceling her concert dates through April 2024, reports People.
The insider said in May, “It’s heartbreaking that she has had to cancel touring but she is suffering mobility and other issues from the disease disrupting her daily life."
.
“She is doing everything she can while working with doctors because she wants to perform,” they added.
“She has not given up at all. She is hoping to get all of the issues with this disease under control so she can sing again," the source said.
View this post on Instagram
Celine Dion's health battle
Stiff-person syndrome is a “rare, progressive neurological disorder” that can cause stiff muscles in the torso, arms, and legs, as per the National Institutes of Health.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” Celine posted on social media.
“Recently, I have been diagnosed with a very rare neurological syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people, as per the New York Post.
“All I know is singing,” she said, adding “It’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most," MEAWW reports.
Her older sister Claudette recently talked about Dion’s health, “There are spasms — they’re impossible to control. You know how people often jump up in the night because of a cramp in the leg or the calf? It’s a bit like that, but in all muscles.”