Jesy Nelson's petition calling for newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has reached 100,000 signatures within 24 hours, meaning it will be considered for debate in Parliament. The former Little Mix singer launched the campaign with the Daily Mirror, and the petition is one of the fastest on record to hit the milestone.
The 34-year-old appeared on ITV's This Morning on Friday, telling presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary that her twins, born prematurely in May, were both diagnosed late with the severe Type 1 form of SMA. She described her daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, as her "whole heart and soul" and said they have given her a purpose in life.
Nelson's twins were eventually diagnosed at six months after numerous visits to GPs and healthcare visitors, despite repeated assurances from the NHS that they were fine. The condition means the girls will probably never walk, and in severe cases can require breathing support and tube feeding.
In a video shared with her 9.7 million Instagram followers on Friday, Nelson was seen bursting into tears as the petition crossed the milestone. She thanked every person who signed, saying: "This is the first hurdle but we bloody did it, and I truly believe that together we are going to make change." The footage showed Nelson embracing friends and family in celebration.
The Mirror reported modelling from the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research showing that three children will die every year while the NHS does not screen for SMA. Most European nations and the US already check for SMA at birth, allowing early treatment that can be effectively curative if given before muscle neurons die.
Nelson told This Morning that she previously did not want children but now feels like a "little lioness" since becoming a mother. With the petition passing 10,000 signatures, the Government is now required to respond to the issue, and the 100,000 threshold ensures it will be considered for parliamentary debate.
