Jesy Nelson has spoken publicly for the first time about the end of her four-year relationship with fiancé Zion Foster, revealing that the diagnosis of their twin daughters with a life-threatening condition was a major factor in their split. In a new Prime documentary, the former Little Mix star breaks down in tears as she discusses the challenges they faced.
Zion's Startling Confession
During the documentary, Zion admitted: “I’m not equipped to deal with this. I’m out of my depth; emotionally, physically and mentally. At the moment I’m surviving. I just need to get help.” Jesy added: “I think we’re both thinking, ‘how the f*** are we going to do this’. And we will because we have to. We don’t have a choice. It’s really f***ing hard.” She also noted, “I can tell he’s really struggling. For a 26-year-old to have to now be put in this situation… I feel like I can see his life flashing before his eyes.”
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Their twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and can be fatal without early detection. According to the NHS, Type 1 SMA means sufferers are unable to sit without support and have difficulties with feeding and breathing. Jesy has since campaigned for newborn testing to be rolled out across the NHS.
Speaking about the split in detail, Jesy said: “It’s a very traumatic thing that we’ve both been through. I think it’s quite inevitable for things like this to happen to couples. I don’t think it’s a shock that we’ve broken up. You’ll either be a team or it’ll tear you apart and unfortunately I feel that’s what it’s done to me and Zion. We still get on, there’s not bad feeling. My main priority is them. I just want to be the best mum with the best energy and positivity possible. The house was not like that when we were together. We’re both dealing with this situation completely differently, and together we were clashing. I decided we would be better off apart. It’s hard. It’s just me and mum now.”
Campaigning for Change
Last month, Jesy admitted she was “heartbroken and outraged” by the decision not to offer SMA testing to every child. She attended parliament for an MPs' debate on SMA screening from birth and was distraught at the outcome. Currently, only 72 per cent of the country will have access to newborn screening when it is introduced in October. Jesy has vowed to “shout from the rooftops” to campaign for change, wanting SMA to be part of an NHS blood test normally carried out at five days old, which currently tests for 10 other conditions.
Documentary Release
Jesy Nelson: Life Changing will be shown on Prime from July 17. The documentary details her struggle and mission to raise awareness about SMA.
