Jesy Nelson Opens Up About Twins' Leg Splints and SMA Journey
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has provided a heartfelt update on the health of her twin daughters, Ocean and Story, revealing they have been fitted with leg splints. The 34-year-old singer, who welcomed the twins in May with her ex-fiancé Zion Foster, disclosed in January that both infants were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1), a rare genetic neuromuscular condition.
Emotional Revelation on Social Media
In a recent Instagram story, Jesy explained that the twins will wear leg splints to correct the positioning of their "pointed" feet. She shared, "So today, I had to go pick up the girls' splints because their feet are pointing, and they need to be flattened out. It made me really sad." She showed the miniature splints, with Story's decorated with hearts and Ocean's with butterflies, adding, "Have you ever seen anything cuter in your life? Made me sad though, because it's just another reminder."
Since announcing the diagnosis, Jesy has been candid on social media about the daily realities of caring for her daughters. SMA1 is the most common and severe form of the disease, progressively weakening muscles by affecting motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, with life expectancy often under two years without intervention.
Advocacy and Documentary Efforts
Despite the heart-wrenching prognosis, Jesy is determined to use her platform for change. She is continuing to film her Prime Video series, aiming to raise awareness about SMA. In a Q&A, she stated, "I just hope people continue to watch the next part of the journey. 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 campaigning for the UK government to include SMA testing in the standard newborn screening program. She explained, "There’s a petition — we need 10,000 signatures to get it to Parliament, and then 100,000 to take it further. Since sharing my girls’ story, six people have already messaged me saying it helped them get their babies diagnosed."
Personal Struggles and Milestones
In an emotional interview on Heart Breakfast in February, Jesy opened up about her journey since giving birth. She described filming her documentary Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix and how the twins' diagnosis changed everything. "Two days into filming, I was rushed into hospital to have laser surgery because of the twins," she said. "From that day, I wasn’t allowed to leave. I ended up living in hospital for nearly three months."
Focusing on her children's progress, Jesy finds joy in small milestones. She shared, "It’s still 50/50 — you never know how they’ll progress. But when I see them holding their heads up for five seconds, that’s my new milestone. That’s my win."
