MONTREAL – Pop megastar Celine Dion, who is suffering from a rare neurological disorder, said in an Instagram post that she is looking forward to her return to the stage.

Dion, 55, first disclosed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which causes stiff muscles in the torso, arms and legs, with noise or emotional distress known to trigger spasms.

“Trying to overcome this autoimmune disorder has been one of the hardest experiences of my life, but I remain determined to one day get back onto the stage and to live as normal of a life as possible,” she said in a post on March 15 to mark International SPS Awareness Day.

“I want to send my encouragement and support to all those around the world that have been affected by SPS. I want you to know you can do it. We can do it,” added the Grammy-winning singer of hits such as My Heart Will Go On (1997) and Because You Loved Me (1996).

“I am deeply grateful for the love and support from my kids, family, team and all of you,” she added in the post, accompanied by a photo of her smiling with her three sons.

There is no cure for SPS, which is progressive, but treatment can help control symptoms. According to the United States National Institutes of Health, the condition affects twice as many women as men.

In May 2023, Dion was forced to cancel a string of shows scheduled for 2023 and 2024, saying she was not strong enough to tour.

The last time she was seen in public was at the Grammy Awards in February, when she made a surprise appearance to present the Album of the Year award to American pop star Taylor Swift.

In January, Dion announced she would make a feature-length documentary, to stream on Amazon Prime Video, about her condition to help increase public awareness.

Dion has sold more than 250 million albums during her decades-long career. Her Courage World Tour began in 2019, and the Quebec-born star had completed 52 shows before the Covid-19 pandemic put the remainder on hold. AFP