Ontario woman hopes Dion diagnosis brings awareness to 'stiff person syndrome'
An Ottawa woman who suffers from the same rare health condition as Celine Dion hopes the singer’s announcement of her diagnosis brings more awareness to the disease.
Dion announced Thursday she is postponing a number of shows to focus on getting better after she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome.
The condition has been the cause of her muscle spasms, forcing her to postpone concerts.
“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 what I’ve been going through,” said Dion in a video posted to her Instagram page.
The singing sensation said the condition affects one in a million people.
“While we are still learning about this rare condition. We now know this is what has been causing all of the spasms I’ve been having,” she said in her video. “It’s been causing me difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I’m used to.”
Dion postponing her European tour dates from February to April as well as cancelling a run of shows from May to June. Dion’s shows from August to October are scheduled to go ahead.
“I have hope that I’m on the road to recovery and I’m doing everything that I can to recuperate,” she said in her video.
Tracie Labonte, who lives near Cornwall, Ont. was diagnosed with the same disorder in October, but has been suffering with symptoms related to the disorder since 2016.
Labonte says when her symptoms started, she needed a walker and then a wheelchair, but now her condition has worsened.
”I can’t walk, there are days that I can’t sit in my wheelchair because my legs won’t bend,” she said.
Both Labonte and her husband are hoping Dion’s diagnosis will help educate the public on the rare condition.
“I’m so thankful Celine Dion was brave enough to come forward because know a lot of celebrities don’t want to disclose their ailments but because it’s so rare, most of the doctors my wife spoke to said I have no idea what that is,” said Jamie Labonte, Tracie’s husband.
While the disorder is incurable, Labonte is fundraising for her ongoing treatments to manage the symptoms of the disorder.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.