Kerry Katona has publicly expressed her support for fellow mother Jesy Nelson after the former Little Mix star shared a devastating update about her twin daughters' health. In an exclusive column for New! magazine, Katona, a mother of seven, offered heartfelt words of encouragement to Nelson, who revealed that her one-year-old twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, have been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Jesy Nelson's Heartbreaking Update
In an emotional video posted to Instagram, Jesy Nelson tearfully described how her heart has been 'broken into a million pieces' as her daughters must wear spinal jackets and splints during the UK's third heatwave in weeks. The twins, born at 31 weeks and five days, were diagnosed with SMA in January 2026, a condition that makes it unlikely they will ever walk. Nelson explained that without the daily braces, their spines and feet would deteriorate further. She wrote: 'These will never correct their spine or feet, it will only prevent it from getting any worse.'
Kerry Katona's Message of Support
Kerry Katona, who has seven children including stepdaughters, shared her empathy in her New! column. She said: 'I saw Jesy Nelson's update about one of her little girls sitting upright, defying the odds. That's what miracles are, that's what life's all about – not drama, chaos or what car you drive.' Reflecting on her own traumatic experience when her daughter Dylan-Jorge was born on life support, Katona added: 'So to have your babies, take them home, then find out they have the muscle-wasting condition SMA like Jesy's have… I have no idea how anybody even gets out of bed. She's so strong.'
Jesy's Campaign for Newborn Screening
Since her daughters' diagnosis, Jesy Nelson has been campaigning for universal newborn screening for SMA. Currently, only 72% of the UK will have access to the test when it is introduced in October. Last month, Nelson attended a parliamentary debate on SMA screening but expressed frustration with the outcome, vowing to 'keep on fighting.' According to the NHS, Type 1 SMA prevents sufferers from sitting without support and causes difficulties with feeding and breathing.
Support from Fellow Celebrities
Jesy's Instagram post, liked by thousands, drew messages from celebrities including Love Island's Dani Dyer, who wrote 'You are doing amazing,' and Billie Shepherd, who called her a 'super mumma.' Chelsee Healey described her as 'amazing,' while Shaughna Phillips branded her a 'warrior mama.' Just days earlier, Nelson celebrated a milestone when one of her twins sat upright in a wheelchair, posting: 'She looks like such a big girl with no tube on her face and sitting upright in her chair.'
Kerry Katona shares children Molly, 24, and Lilly-Sue, 23, with Brian McFadden; Heidi, 19, and Max, 18, with Mark Croft; and Dylan-Jorge, 12, with her late husband George Kay. Her column appears in the latest issue of New! magazine.
