Emily Brown
Eye-opening footage of Céline Dion shows the reality of the iconic singer's experience after she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
Dion, 56, opens up about her experience in an upcoming documentary after being diagnosed in 2022
Warning: Some readers may find the below clip distressing
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SPS is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder which can cause muscle stiffness and painful spasms.
The symptoms of the disorder can come and go, but they can also worsen over time.
In one clip from the documentary, Dion can be seen struggling with the syndrome as she suffers a seizure which lasts 10 minutes.
She's seen gasping for breath as professionals attempt to alleviate the pain caused by the 'crisis', which took place during a filmed consultation with medical professionals.
After making it through the ordeal, Dion covers herself in a blanket and speaks about how it feels to lose control of her body.
"Everytime something like this happens it makes you feel so embarrassed and so, like, I don’t how to express it, it’s just… you know, like to not have control of yourself..." she says.
In spite of her condition, Dion makes clear that she isn't ready to give up on her career.
"I still see myself dance and sing," she says. "I always find plan b and plan c, you know. That’s me. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. But I won’t stop. I won’t stop."
Irene Taylor, who has directed Dion's documentary I Am: Céline Dion, spoke to PA about the clip of the singer having a seizure and recalled wondering if it was something she should film.
However, she recalled Dion telling her not 'to ask permission to film something', so decided to keep rolling.
"So in that first 30 seconds, I was not focused on filming, I was the sound person and my cinematographer was there.
"But there were several people in the room and everyone was doing what they were trained to do to help her, they'd all been given medical training on what to do if this happens.
"So she was in the best hands she could be in. If they needed an extra pair of hands, I would have dropped my microphone and gotten in [to] help them without a doubt. But I did decide to keep filming, knowing that we didn't have to use it."
But despite Taylor's acknowledgement that the scene didn't 'have' to be used, Dion encouraged the director to keep it in the film.
Taylor said: "What you see in this final film is exactly what I showed her the first time. She didn’t want me to change it at all."
The documentary comes after Dion announced last year that she would not be able to carry out her world tour as originally planned.
"I want you all to know, I'm not giving up… and I can't wait to see you again!" Dion said at the time.
I Am: Céline Dion is available worldwide on Prime Video from today (June 25).