Celine Dion has been battling symptoms of stiff person syndrome for 17 years, as revealed in the new documentary “I Am: Celine Dion.”
The film provides an intimate look into Dion’s life with the debilitating condition, which significantly impacts her daily activities and career.
Dr. Amanda Piquet, Dion’s physician and director of the autoimmune neurology program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus, offers insights into the singer’s struggles.
In a particularly poignant scene, viewers witness Dion during a physical therapy session, shortly after she is seen recording a new song, “Love Again.”
The therapy session begins with what appear to be routine exercises, part of Dion’s ongoing treatment to manage her symptoms and improve her health.
However, the scene quickly takes a distressing turn as Dion experiences severe cramping in her leg.
Within minutes, her entire body is tensed up, rendering her unable to speak, move, or even change her facial expression. The camera captures her wince in pain and the tears that follow as the episode unfolds.
Dr. Piquet intervenes, administering a benzodiazepine nasal spray to Dion.
Benzodiazepines are depressant drugs that relieve anxiety and reduce muscle spasms, critical in managing her condition.
“That anxiety, that panic, that continued spasm that was not breaking then very quickly triggered just a complete whole body spasm,” Piquet explains.
She clarifies that the episode is not a seizure but a spasm, with patients remaining fully aware of their surroundings. “There’s a lot of anxiety, there’s a lot of panic, your adrenaline’s rushing.”
The documentary’s director, Irene Taylor, reflects on the difficulty of filming such a raw and vulnerable moment.
Speaking to TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, Taylor recounts, “It was the most extraordinarily uncomfortable moment in my life, as a filmmaker but also as a mother, as a fellow human, because I didn’t know what was happening.”
Taylor was uncertain whether to continue filming but found strength in Dion’s resilience.
“Celine gave me the strength to just keep going. We had been filming together for many months at that point, so she had really trained me, ‘Just keep going. If I have to stop you, I’ll stop you.'”
Taylor describes the scene as intense and harrowing, noting her uncertainty about Dion’s awareness and survival during the episode.
“Her body was enduring something that was unimaginable, and I wasn’t sure if she was aware of it,” Taylor continues. “I wasn’t sure if she was going to survive it. It’s really hard to even sit next to her and talk out loud about it because it was very intense.”
“I Am: Celine Dion” offers a stark and heartfelt portrayal of the singer’s battle with stiff person syndrome, shedding light on her courage and determination to continue her life and career amidst profound challenges.
Related: Celine Dion reveals why she hid her condition from the public for 17 years
