Celine Dion, 55, makes her FIRST APPEARANCE in over THREE years at hockey game in Las Vegas… amid terrifying battle with stiff-person syndrome

By William On Nov 1, 2023

Celine Dion made a rare appearance at a hockey game in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday night as she continues to battle stiffness syndrome.

The superstar Titanic singer, 55, was seen in public for the first time in three and a half years as she greeted fans after watching the Montreal Canadiens take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

Montreal vice-president of hockey communications Chantal Machabée shared on her Instagram a video of the iconic singer, who appeared cheerful as she hugged Machabee.

“A great visit to our game in Vegas yesterday,” Machabée captioned the photos. ‘Thank you Celine Dion for your generosity. The whole team was very happy to meet you and your family.’

Celine was accompanied by her sons René-Charles and twins Nelson and Eddy, and the family posed with some of the athletes after the race.

Rare outing: Celine Dion made a rare appearance at a hockey game in Las Vegas on Monday night, amid her battle with stiff person syndrome

Spotted: The 55-year-old superstar was spotted in public for the first time in 3 1/2 years as she greeted fans after watching the Montreal Canadiens take on the Vegas Golden Knights

Looking in good spirits: Montreal’s vice-president of hockey communications Chantal Machabée took to her Instagram to share a video of the iconic singer, who appeared in good spirits as she hugged Machabee

The Grammy winner has kept a very low profile since announcing that she was diagnosed with Moersch-Woltman syndrome in 2022.

The condition, also called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), is a rare neurological condition that causes people to experience painful muscle spasms.

She revealed her diagnosis in December, which forced her to pull the plug on her ‘Courage World Tour’, and her older sibling Claudette Dion, 74, has now said she is devastated that she and the singer’s family have little can do to help her. ‘strong’ sister or ‘relieves her pain’.

Claudette told HELLO! Canada: ‘She is doing everything she can to recover. She is a strong woman.

‘It is a disease we know so little about. There are spasms – they are impossible to control.

‘Do you know who people often jump up at night because of cramps in the leg or calf? It’s a bit like that, but in all muscles.

“There is little we can do to support her and ease her pain.”

She added that mother-of-three Celine’s family is “crossing their fingers that researchers will find a cure for this terrible disease.”

Great visit: “A great visit to our game in Vegas yesterday,” Machabée wrote alongside the photos. ‘Thank you Celine Dion for your generosity. The whole team was very happy to meet you and your family.’

Family affair: Celine was accompanied by her sons René-Charles and twins Nelson and Eddy, and the family posed with some athletes after the race

The Grammy winner has kept a very low profile since announcing that she was diagnosed with Moersch-Woltman Syndrome in 2022

Condition: The condition, also called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), is a rare neurological condition that causes people to experience painful muscle spasms

Stiff Person Syndrome is a rare, progressive neurological condition that can cause stiff muscles in the trunk, arms and legs – affecting around one in a million people.

Celine’s other sister Linda and her husband have moved to the singer’s Las Vegas home to care for her, and Claudette added, “It’s comforting for all of us (to have them near Celine.)”

Claudette previously revealed that despite working with “the best researchers in the field,” Grammy-winning Celine has seen little improvement in her health.

Reveal: She revealed her diagnosis in December, which forced her to pull the plug on her ‘Courage World Tour’, and her older sibling Claudette Dion, 74, has now said she is devastated that she and the woman’s family singer can do little to help her ‘strong’ sister or ‘relieve her pain’

Battle: Claudette told HELLO! Canada: ‘She is doing everything she can to recover. She is a strong woman. ‘It is a disease we know so little about. There are spasms – they are impossible to control

She told Le Journal de Montreal: “We can’t find any medicine that works, but having hope is important.”

Claudette said Celine’s cancellation of her ‘Courage’ tour was a necessary step for her chances of rehabilitation.

Speaking about the singer – whose husband, music producer René Angélil, aged 73, died in 2016 after they were married for 22 years – she said: “I honestly think what she needs most of all is rest. She always goes above and beyond, she always tries to be the best and the best of her abilities. At some point your heart and body are trying to tell you something. It is important to listen to it.”

WHAT IS RIGID PERSON SYNDROME?

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare, progressive neurological disorder. Symptoms may include: Stiff muscles in the trunk (torso), arms and legs. Increased sensitivity to noise, touch and emotional distress, which he says can cause muscle spasms NIH.

Over time, people with SPS may develop hunched postures. Some people may be too disabled to walk or exercise. Many often fall because they do not have the normal reflexes to catch themselves. This can lead to serious injuries. People with SPS may be afraid to leave the house because street noises, such as the sound of a car horn, can cause cramps and falls.

Who is more likely to have stiff person syndrome?

SPS affects twice as many women as men.

It is often associated with other autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo and pernicious anemia.

Scientists don’t yet understand what causes SPS, but research suggests it is the result of an autoimmune response gone awry in the brain and spinal cord.

How is rigid person syndrome diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis of SPS

SPS is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic diseases, or anxiety and phobia. A definitive diagnosis can be made with a blood test that measures the level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies.

Most people with SPS have elevated (higher) levels of GAD antibodies. Antibody titers are important for the diagnosis of SPS. A titer is a laboratory test that measures the presence and amount of antibodies in the blood. Elevated GAD titers, up to 10 times above normal, are also seen in diabetes, but in SPS the titers are very high (at least 10 times above the range seen in diabetes) or are present in the spinal fluid.

Treating SPS

With proper treatment, SPS symptoms can be controlled. Several symptoms improve with oral diazepam (an anti-anxiety drug and muscle relaxant) or with medications that relieve muscle spasms, such as baclofen or gabapentin.

A study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) showed that treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is effective in reducing stiffness, sensitivity to sound, touch and stress and improving gait and balance in people with SPS. IVIg contains immunoglobulins (natural antibodies produced by the immune system) sourced from thousands of healthy donors.

JUDICIAL NIH INFORMATION