Additional Coverage:
- Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson’s twins given devastating diagnosis as they’ll ‘never walk’ (themirror.com)
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has shared heartbreaking news with her fans, revealing that her twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster, have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type one. The 34-year-old singer made the emotional announcement in a video, detailing the severe genetic disorder that will prevent her daughters from ever walking.
Nelson, who welcomed her twins prematurely last May after a difficult pregnancy, explained that her mother initially noticed the girls weren’t exhibiting typical mobility for their age. Despite early reassurances from healthcare visitors that everything was fine due to their premature birth, Nelson began to observe other concerning symptoms, including difficulties with feeding.
After “three to four grueling months” of appointments, the twins received the devastating diagnosis. SMA type one is a severe form of the disorder that affects every muscle in the body, impacting limbs, swallowing, and even life expectancy if left untreated. Nelson revealed that doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital informed her that her daughters would likely never regain neck strength and would be disabled.
“If it’s not treated in time, your babies life expectancy will not make it past the age of two,” Nelson shared in the video. “Time is of the essence with this disease.”
Fortunately, the twins have already received treatment, a rapid process that Nelson emphasized was critical. “If they didn’t have it they would die,” she stated.
The singer has now fully embraced her role as a full-time caregiver, spending significant time at the hospital and learning to perform medical tasks that she said “no mother should have to do on their child.” Nelson’s pregnancy itself was high-risk, involving twin-to-twin transfusion and emergency surgery that kept her hospitalized on bed rest for months before the twins were born at 31 weeks and five days.
Despite the profound challenges, Nelson remains hopeful. Becoming visibly emotional as she concluded her video, she expressed gratitude that her daughters are still alive and have received treatment. “I truly believe that my girls will defy all the odds and with the right help they will fight this,” she affirmed.