Jesy Nelson Opens Up on This Morning Following Daughters' Diagnosis
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has shared a deeply personal and emotional update regarding her twin daughters' health, just weeks after revealing their "traumatic" diagnosis. The 34-year-old pop star appeared on ITV's This Morning on Friday to discuss her new documentary series, Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video.
A Heartbreaking Diagnosis and a Mother's Campaign
Last month, Nelson disclosed that her daughters, Ocean and Story, were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a rare and progressive genetic condition leading to severe muscle weakness. This diagnosis followed a challenging pregnancy complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), resulting in the twins being born prematurely at 31 weeks and requiring intensive neonatal care.
Since the diagnosis, Nelson has been campaigning tirelessly for universal newborn screening for SMA across the UK. Her efforts recently led to a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, where she advocated for policy changes. Speaking on This Morning, she expressed optimism, stating, "All the steps are going in the right direction. I couldn't ask for any more."
Documentary Chronicles Journey and Healing
The documentary series offers an intimate look into Nelson's life, covering her music career, transition to motherhood, and the twins' birth. Reflecting on watching the footage, Nelson admitted it was not therapeutic, saying, "It's a lot for me, because obviously so much has happened since then. And that was already quite traumatic for me anyway." She revealed that within two days of filming, she underwent an emergency laser operation to save her daughters' lives, highlighting the severity of her pregnancy complications.
Nelson also shared an update on her relationship with former Little Mix bandmates Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, noting that they have all reached out. "It's been lovely. I feel like it's very healing," she said, adding that this contact has helped mend past rifts.
Looking Forward with Hope and Purpose
Despite the challenges, Nelson remains hopeful, emphasizing how her daughters have transformed her life. "They made me the person I've always wanted to be," she shared. "I felt like I had no purpose before them. They give me a reason every day." Her advocacy work continues to gain momentum, with the NHS planning large-scale newborn SMA screening trials next year, potentially expanding to all babies.
Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, while This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.
