Maritime woman shares details of her struggle with stiff person syndrome
One of the most successful singers of all time has exited the music stage.
Céline Dion, the award-winning singer best-known for her hit “My Heart Will Go On,” has gone public with her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, which impacts one in every one million people.
Linda Cox heard the news last night.
“When they listed her symptoms, they listed mine,” said Cox from her home in Bear River, N.S.
Cox went home sick from work 25 years ago with stiffness in her right leg. It took four years before she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome.
Stiff person syndrome affects the brain and spinal cord and it can be triggered by loud sounds and bright lights.
“Spasms can get so bad they can break your bones --- a balloon bursting or a car horn blowing,” said Cox. “When I would go to outpatients, if the lady was going to vacuum, she would come tell me so I wouldn’t be startled when she turned it on.”
Those with stiff person syndrome live in fear of spasms.
“As a result, if they are walking across an open area, even though they may seem normally able to walk, if they hear a sound, the person may freeze up, fall over and hurt themselves,” said Dr. Andrew McKeon from the Mayo Clinic.
Cox has been forced to use a cane and sometimes a walker.
“I am scared to leave the house, to go outdoors,” said Cox. “I start to get tense.”
According to her son, Nick, the diagnosis has impacted his family's lifestyle.
“She was a very hands-on volunteer, always driving us to sports and band,” he said. “And then all of a sudden, it stopped. Someone who was always out in the community doing stuff for her boys couldn’t leave the house and was afraid to leave the house.”
Cox was saddened by the Céline Dion diagnosis. However, because of Dion’s fame, she said there is a possible upside to this recent diagnosis.
“I haven’t come across anyone who has heard of it,” said Cox. “Now people are going to hear of it.”
And that could lead to awareness, fundraising and maybe a cure.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in "all public spaces," marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.