Amidst her famous sister’s enduring battle with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), Claudette, the sister of singing sensation Celine Dion, has expressed her heartfelt desire for a traditional family reunion this Christmas.
Speaking to Hello Canada Claudette said, “We can’t know what wonderful gift we’ll have for Christmas. But her presence would be the most wonderful gift ever. We never know. We cross our fingers and send her all our love and positive thoughts.”
Dion is the youngest of 14 siblings and according to Claudette, Christmas has always been a large, traditional family affair.
“We follow in a tradition that our mom modeled for us, our dad too, to gather as a family to celebrate Christmas,” she told the publication.
Even though the family is large, they clearly share a close bond and much to Claudette’s relief, Dion’s other sister, Linda, lives with her in Las Vegas where the star initially took up residency at Caesar’s Palace some years ago.
“When I call her and she’s busy, I speak to my sister Linda who lives with her and tells me that she’s working hard. She’s listening to the top researchers in the field of this rare disease as much as possible,” she said.
While she knows that Dion will be following doctor’s orders she believes Dion needs some much-needed rest.
“She always goes above and beyond, she always tries to be the best and top of her game. At one point, your heart and your body are trying to tell you something. It’s important to listen to it,” she said.
She also added that holding onto hope for her rehabilitation was important, as currently, SPS has no cure.
“We trust her. It’s innate to her, she’s disciplined in every area of her life… We can’t find any medicine that works, but having hope is important,” she said.
As her family continues to offer their love and support to the iconic singer, Dion’s fans have also rallied around her with messages of hope.
Dion, renowned for her powerful vocals and chart-topping hits, was diagnosed with SPS late in 2022. As explained by the National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD), SPS is a rare neurological disorder marked by gradual muscle stiffness and recurring episodes of painful muscle spasms. These spasms can manifest sporadically or be triggered by various factors, such as sudden noise or light physical contact.
Following her diagnosis, Dion consequently cancelled all future tour dates much to the shock and disbelief of millions of fans.