Céline Dion has given an update on her health in a new interview with VOGUE France, saying she "feels strong and positive about the future."
For the May cover story, the Canadian icon discusses her battle with the rare neurological disorder known as Stiff Person Syndrome that has prevented her from performing over the past two years.
"I’m well, but it’s a lot of work. I’m taking it one day at a time," Dion explains. "I haven’t beat the disease, as it's still within me and always will be. I hope that we'll find a miracle, a way to cure it with scientific research, but for now I have to learn to live with it. So that's me, now with Stiff Person Syndrome."
Dion says that her day-to-day life requires immense strength and conditioning to help her regain control of her muscles, which is all part of trying to reach a specific goal she has in mind.
"Five days a week I undergo athletic, physical and vocal therapy. I work on my toes, my knees, my calves, my fingers, my singing, my voice..." she admits. "The way I see it, I have two choices. Either I train like an athlete and work super hard, or I switch off and it’s over, I stay at home, listen to my songs, stand in front of my mirror and sing to myself. I've chosen to work with all my body and soul, from head to toe, with a medical team. I want to be the best I can be. My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!"
For Dion, life comes one day at a time. She is just appreciating her life the way it is and taking in big moments like appearing on the cover of a big fashion magazine, because that never happened earlier on in her career.
"My dream is to live in the present. One day at a time," she says. "I am truly very lucky. And I am honored to be doing a photo shoot for Vogue France because although I had better health and beauty at 30, I didn’t get asked to do one then. I am very proud that at 55, I am being asked to reveal my beauty... Today, I am a woman, who feels strong and positive about the future. One day at a time."
As for returning to the stage to sing in front of her fans, Dion isn't yet prepared to confront the idea. Nonetheless she remains determined.
"For four years I've been saying to myself that I'm not going back, that I'm ready, that I'm not ready... As things stand, I can't stand here and say to you: 'Yes, in four months.' I don't know... My body will tell me," she confesses. "On the other hand, I don't just want to wait. It's morally hard to live from day to day. It's hard, I'm working very hard and tomorrow will be even harder. Tomorrow is another day. But there's one thing that will never stop, and that's the will. It's the passion. It's the dream. It's the determination."
You can read the full interview here.
Fans can expect to learn more about Dion's fight with Stiff Person Syndrome when Amazon Prime's upcoming documentary, I Am: Céline Dion hits the streaming service on June 25.