Celine Dion Steps Out With Son Amid Rare Disease Battle
Celine Dion, who rarely appears in public since her illness, appeared at the premiere of her documentary I Am: Celine Dion. The 56-year-old singer was accompanied on the red carpet by her 23-year-old son Rene-Charles.
For the event, Dion chose a white look, wearing a blouse with a bow, a full-length skirt and pearl earrings. And the singer's eldest son from her husband Rene Angelil, who died of cancer in 2016, chose to go out in a classic pantsuit with a tie.
At the premiere, Celine thanked her fans and loved ones who have supported her during her illness. "For a long time — a very long time — I've felt the love and support of my fans all over the world," the singer told E! News. "They've helped me get to where I am today."
The star noted that, thanks to the documentary, she wants as many people as possible to learn about such a rare disease, and for those who also suffer from it to know that they are not alone. “I just hope it gives them wings and strength,” she added.
The documentary I Am: Celine Dion will have its world premiere on June 25. In it, Celine opens up about her fight for health after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022. The rare autoimmune movement disorder, which affects one in a million people, affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Symptoms can occur at any age, but usually develop between the ages of 30 and 60. Patients experience progressive muscle rigidity and spasms, causing them to become, in layman's terms, "statues." The singer was forced to cancel a world tour due to the progressive disease.
In a recent interview on the Today show, the singer shared how her illness manifests itself, and also posed topless for the cover of Vogue and said that she works every day to "accept" her illness and learn to "manage" it.