Celine Dion害羞草研究所檚 sister says the Grammy Award-winning singer is facing further challenges as she continues to live with a rare neurological disorder.

Claudette Dion said in a new interview that her sister is focused on overcoming her illness, called stiff person syndrome, but that progress has been difficult.

害羞草研究所淪he is working hard, but she does not have control of her muscles,害羞草研究所� the elder sister told Quebec news outlet 7 Jours in an interview translated from French.

害羞草研究所淰ocal cords are muscles, and the heart is also a muscle. That is what really hits me.害羞草研究所�

She said the illness affects an estimated one out of a million people and is not yet well understood by current medical science.

Representatives for the Quebec-born songstress did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The 55-year-old announced last December that she had been diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder which leads to muscle rigidity and spasms that can be very painful.

The spasms can cause people to fall and put them at risk of injury. If the thoracic muscles are affected, people can have difficulty breathing.

Dion was determined to persevere, first delaying a block of dates on her 害羞草研究所淐ourage害羞草研究所� world tour, but by last May, she was forced to cancel the remaining dates through April 2024.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not giving up害羞草研究所� and I can害羞草研究所檛 wait to see you again,害羞草研究所� she said in May.

Her 75-year-old sister said fans of the 害羞草研究所淢y Heart Will Go On害羞草研究所� singer continue to send messages of support through the Fondation Maman Dion, the charity created in their mother害羞草研究所檚 name to support grade schoolchildren.

害羞草研究所淧eople tell us they love her and they are praying for her,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淪he is receiving so many messages, gifts, blessed crucifixes.害羞草研究所�

She added: 害羞草研究所淲hat pains me is that she has always been disciplined. She has always worked hard.

害羞草研究所淢aman always told her: 害羞草研究所榊ou are going to do it well, you are going to do it properly.害羞草研究所� Definitely, in our dream and in hers, the idea is to return to stage. In what state? I don害羞草研究所檛 know.害羞草研究所�

Dion害羞草研究所檚 sister, who is also a well-known Quebec singer, has offered updates on her condition in recent months, including one to Hello! Canada over the summer where she said the spasms 害羞草研究所渁re impossible to control.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 little we can do to support her, to alleviate her pain,害羞草研究所� she told the publication.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e crossing our fingers that researchers will find a remedy for this awful illness.害羞草研究所�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2023.

David Friend, The Canadian Press