Jesy Nelson's Twin Daughters Return to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Further Tests
Singer Jesy Nelson has revealed that her nine-month-old twin daughters, Ocean and Story, returned to Great Ormond Street Hospital on Thursday for additional medical examinations. The 34-year-old former Little Mix star shared a poignant update with her followers, posting a photograph of her babies lying side-by-side on a hospital bed while being examined by medical staff.
Heartbreaking Hospital Scene Captured on Social Media
In the emotional Instagram post, both infants wore matching yellow and pink baby grows with feeding tubes visible in their noses. Nelson captured a particularly touching moment in her caption, writing: "Ocean's face she's like 'I see what you doing to my sister'" as one twin watched the other being examined. The twins were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 in January, a rare and severe muscle-wasting condition that affects motor neuron cells in the spinal cord.
Campaigning for Newborn Screening Expansion
Since her daughters' diagnosis, Nelson has become a vocal campaigner for expanding the NHS newborn screening programme to include testing for SMA Type 1. The singer revealed that because her twins weren't tested at birth, their diagnosis came too late for them to ever walk. "They have now decided to roll that out in October for all babies in England to be tested at birth for SMA, which is absolutely incredible," Nelson told her followers, describing the development as a "major milestone" for the SMA community.
Postcode Lottery Concerns Remain
Despite recent announcements from Health Secretary Wes Streeting that screening will begin in October 2026 rather than January 2025 as previously planned, Nelson expressed concerns about implementation. "It is bittersweet because basically they are only doing it in certain areas of England," she explained. "If you do not live in that certain postcode or part of England then your baby won't be tested for SMA, which is really sad. It's essentially a postcode lottery for your baby which shouldn't be the case."
Parliamentary Debate and Continued Advocacy
The determined mother announced that a petition she supported, which gained over 100,000 signatures, will now be debated in Parliament. "I'm going to keep pushing and trying as much as possible to get this so it is in all areas of England," Nelson vowed. The pilot programme is expected to test approximately 400,000 babies across England, expanding beyond the current "heel prick" test that screens for just ten conditions including cystic fibrosis.
Understanding Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a genetic disease that progressively weakens muscles by affecting motor neuron cells. Type 1 SMA, which affects Nelson's daughters, is the most severe form and typically becomes evident at birth. Without timely treatment, the condition affects breathing, swallowing, and other vital functions, with life expectancy often limited to before age two. Nelson remains hopeful about her daughters' prognosis, stating: "My girls are the strongest, most resilient babies and I really believe that they are going to defy all the odds."
Personal Journey and Public Platform
Despite the devastating diagnosis and challenging daily care routine that includes medical procedures that leave both babies and parents distressed, Nelson has continued filming her Prime Video documentary series. "When the girls got their diagnosis, we decided that we wanted to continue filming," she explained. "As hard as it was, we were like, 'You know what? There's a reason you guys are here, and we've got to make the best out of this situation.'" The singer described caring for her twins as an emotional rollercoaster but remains committed to using her platform to advocate for change in newborn screening protocols across England.
