Jesy Nelson Returns to Filming Amid Heartbreaking Health Battle for Twins
Jesy Nelson, the former Little Mix star, has been spotted back at work, filming for her upcoming TV documentary. The singer, 34, looked absolutely sensational, showcasing her midriff and a stylish belly button piercing. She was photographed wearing a chic cropped grey cardigan layered over a delicate white lace bralette, with her long tresses styled in loose curls. Completing the casual yet striking look, she paired the outfit with a classic pair of denim jeans.
This return to filming comes at a difficult time for Jesy, as her nine-month-old twin daughters, Ocean and Story, were diagnosed earlier this year with a devastating genetic neuromuscular disease: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1). Jesy welcomed her daughters prematurely in May 2025 with her ex-fiancé, Zion Foster.
Understanding Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a serious condition that weakens muscles by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord. SMA Type 1 is the most severe and common form of the disease. Without timely medical intervention, the life expectancy for babies diagnosed with SMA1 is estimated to be less than two years. The condition leads to progressive muscle weakness and wasting due to the loss of motor neurons. This impacts essential bodily functions such as breathing and swallowing.
A Mother’s Fight to Make a Difference
Despite the incredibly challenging prognosis for her daughters, Jesy has made the brave decision to continue filming her documentary. She explained her reasoning in a recent Q&A session, stating her desire to “make a change.”
“I just hope people continue to watch the next part of the journey,” Jesy shared. “When the girls got their diagnosis, we decided that we wanted to continue filming. As hard as it was, we were like, ‘You know what? There’s a reason you guys are here, and we’ve got to make the best out of this situation.'”
Jesy is a passionate advocate for making SMA testing a standard part of the heel prick test offered to newborns. This has become her primary goal, alongside caring for her daughters.
“I’m trying to get it [SMA] made part of the heel prick test. That’s my main goal right now, as well as looking after my beautiful girls,” she continued. “I haven’t even seen it back yet, but I already know it’s going to be tough. But I’m just so happy that we’ve been able to document everything, because I really believe that we’re going to make a change. Like, I feel it.”
She expressed her gratitude for the public’s dedication to raising awareness about her journey and is confident that her documentary will further amplify this message.
Hope Amidst Adversity
Speaking on Jamie Laing’s “Great Company” podcast, Jesy, who recently separated from the children’s father, Zion (26), conveyed her hope that her daughters will defy the odds now that they are receiving treatment.
“So spinal muscular atrophy is a muscular wasting disease, so they don’t have a gene that we all have in our body,” Jesy explained. “Their muscles are now deteriorating and wasting away, and if you don’t get them treatment in time, eventually the muscles will all just die, which then affects the breathing, the swallowing, everything. And they will die before the age of two.”
She added, with remarkable strength, “It’s not okay, but it is what it is, and I just have to accept it, and now just try and make the best out of this situation… And my girls are the strongest, most resilient babies and I really believe that they are going to defy all the odds.”
The Push for Expanded Newborn Screening
Jesy Nelson is actively campaigning for the NHS to include spinal muscular atrophy in the standard heel prick blood test for newborns. The cost of these tests is minimal, approximately £1 per test. Jesy believes that early detection through this screening could have significantly altered her twins’ situation, potentially “saving their legs” through prompt treatment.
The challenges faced by Jesy’s twins began even before their birth. They were diagnosed with TTTS (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome) while in the womb. This rare condition affects identical twins who share a single placenta. One twin receives an unequal share of nutrients, leading to potential complications for both.
“They had TTTS which affects a rare percentage of identical twins, and that means, if you’ve only got one placenta that both the babies feed off of, and it’s crap for both of them, because one will get more of the nutrients and one won’t,” Jesy elaborated. “But either way, doesn’t matter. Even the baby that’s getting too many nutrients, it still affects them. It’s not good. And so if you don’t get treatment for that, they will die. It’s like, 95 per cent, that they won’t survive.”
Jesy’s determination to raise awareness and advocate for change highlights the critical importance of newborn screening and early intervention for conditions like SMA, offering hope for a brighter future for affected families.
