Jesy Nelson has criticised healthcare professionals for failing to spot symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in her twin daughters, saying the condition was only noticed by her mother. The former Little Mix singer, 34, welcomed Ocean Jade and Story Monroe in May last year, and they were later diagnosed with SMA, a life-altering disease.
In an interview on Sky News' The UK Tonight, Nelson said health visitors and GPs missed early signs, such as a lack of leg movement, during routine checks. 'The fact that there were healthcare visitors around my house a lot and we took them to the GP and not one of them saw any of the signs,' she said, adding that without urgent treatment, her daughters would have died.
Nelson expressed anger that her family's experience was not taken seriously until she spoke out. 'This is a matter of life or death for someone's child,' she said. 'Who has the right to decide whether my child is going to be in a wheelchair or not when we've literally had three life-changing treatments since 2018?'
The singer is now campaigning for SMA screening to be added to the UK's routine newborn heel prick test. She said she will 'stay noisy' on social media and television to raise awareness, hoping to prevent other families from enduring similar heartbreak.
Nelson also spoke of her struggle to accept the diagnosis, which means her daughters will 'probably never walk' and will need wheelchairs. 'I just want to be their mum, I don't want to be a nurse,' she said, thanking fans for their support.
