Jesy Nelson Opens Up About Twins' Health Struggles with Rare Muscle Disease
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has shared a heartfelt and emotional update regarding the health of her twin daughters, who are battling a severe and incurable muscle condition. The pop star, who welcomed her babies Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster in May 2025, recently expressed her sadness after collecting custom leg splints for the girls.
Heartbreaking Diagnosis and Ongoing Challenges
Jesy Nelson's twin daughters were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1, a rare and severe muscle disease, when they were just eight months old. The condition has irreversible effects, and medical professionals have indicated the girls will likely never walk and cannot regain neck muscle strength due to the late diagnosis.
The singer revealed her emotional response to picking up the girls' new medical equipment, stating on Instagram: "So today, I had to go pick up the girls' splints because their feet are pointing down, and they need to be flattened out... It made me really sad." She then showed the tiny pink splints with hearts and purple splints with butterflies, adding: "Have you ever seen anything cuter in your life? Look at them!"
Campaigning for Early Detection and Treatment
Since the diagnosis, Jesy Nelson has become a vocal advocate for newborn SMA testing. She has emphasized that early detection through heel prick tests at birth could prevent many symptoms, explaining: "There is no cure for SMA, there's only treatment that can help. It's just frustrating because there's so many children that have been detected from birth... and then they've had the treatment, and then these children have gone on to walk."
The mother-of-two has taken her campaign to the highest levels of government, meeting with UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting to urge making SMA testing a priority for all newborns. Her advocacy work comes after what she described as "the most gruelling three, four months, and endless appointments" leading to her daughters' diagnosis.
Background and Family Journey
Jesy Nelson welcomed her twin daughters with former fiancé Zion Foster after navigating a high-risk pregnancy. Though born premature, the babies were initially described as "healthy and fighting strong" before their SMA Type 1 diagnosis emerged months later. The singer has been transparent about her family's health journey, sharing both the difficult moments and her determination to create change for other families facing similar challenges.
Her ongoing campaign highlights the critical importance of early detection for SMA Type 1, a condition where timely intervention can dramatically improve outcomes. As Jesy continues to balance motherhood with advocacy, she remains committed to ensuring other children might avoid the limitations her daughters now face.
