Symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy as Jesy Nelson emotionally reveals twins will 'never walk'
Jesy Nelson said the hospital had become her 'second home' since the diagnosis
Jesy Nelson has provided another heartbreaking update on her newborn twins, revealing they have been diagnosed with a 'severe' genetic condition called SMA type one.
The Little Mix alum gave birth to twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, back in May 2025, having endured a gruelling and painful pregnancy.
After falling pregnant in late 2024, the performer confirmed a couple of months before their birth that they had developed a rare condition while in the womb called TTTS.
Alongside partner Zion Foster, the 34-year-old took to social media in March 2025 to say that she was at risk of losing one or both of her babies due to the condition, which causes uneven blood flow between the two babies and can lead to lots of complications.
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The twins arrived in May, two months premature, so there were always concerns that there might be further health issues down the line, and that has now been confirmed by Nelson on her Instagram page.
In a tearful video, Nelson confirmed that both of her children had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
The progressive neuromuscular disease can seriously impact a baby's life expectancy, with Nelson explaining in her video that without proper treatment, it's unlikely they would have made it past the age of two.
She also said that staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital had told her that her daughters would probably not be able to walk, something she had already been worried about after noticing 'that the girls were not showing as much movement in their legs as they should be'.
"The best thing we can do right now is to get them treatment, hope for the best," she said.
"Thankfully, the girls have had their treatment, which I'm so grateful for because if they don't have it they will die, but it has just been endless amounts of hospital appointments.
"I practically feel like the hospital has become my second home. I almost feel like I've had to become a nurse in the space of two weeks of getting their diagnosis."
What are the symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy?
While there are medicines that can help to ease the symptoms of SMA, there is currently no cure and as a progressive disease, it's only likely to get worse over time.
Symptoms include:
- muscle weakness, such as floppy or weak arms
- legs and movement problems such as difficulty sitting up, crawling or walking
- issues breathing or swallowing
- twitching or shaking muscles
- bone and joint problems
- a bell-shaped chest
- lack of reflexes
Of the five types of SMA, the singer's daughters have the most severe type, which is usually diagnosed within the first six months of life.
In the face of their diagnosis, Nelson is still holding out hope for her girls, telling her followers: "I truly believe that my girls will defy all the orders and with the right help they will fight this."
Topics: Little Mix, Health, Celebrity News
James Moorhouse