Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has announced a new one-off television special that will continue her passionate campaign to have Spinal Muscular Atrophy testing included in the standard NHS heel prick test for newborns. This documentary will follow her journey as a mother and advocate, inspired by the diagnosis of her twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster, with SMA Type 1.
Campaigning for Change Through Television
Jesy Nelson launched her Prime Video series, Life After Little Mix, which is set to stream from February 13, but she has now revealed plans for an additional documentary special later in the year. This special will focus exclusively on her advocacy work, aiming to raise awareness and push for policy changes regarding SMA testing at birth. The Mirror has joined her in this campaign, which is expected to gain significant momentum through the Prime Video programme.
A Personal Mission Driven by Family
The decision to create this extra show came after Jesy's twin daughters were diagnosed with SMA Type 1, a rare genetic condition that leads to muscle wastage and can severely impact mobility. Initially, filming for her series had concluded, but Jesy chose to keep the cameras rolling to document this challenging chapter. She explained at the launch event in London that she hopes the documentary will inspire change and show the twins' resilience when they are older.
Jesy stated: "I just hope people continue to watch the next part of the journey. When the girls got their diagnosis, we decided that we wanted to continue filming. 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'. I'm trying to get SMA made part of the heel prick test. That's like my main goal right now, as well as looking after my beautiful girls."
Health Update and Emotional Journey
During the screening, Jesy provided a brief update on her daughters' health, noting that they are doing well despite the challenges. She expressed pride in their progress and happiness, emphasizing that their smiles are what matter most. The twins have already overcome significant odds, including developing twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in the womb, which doctors warned had a 90-95% chance of being fatal without urgent intervention.
In emotional footage from the Prime Video series, Jesy reflects on the pregnancy complications, saying: "I can't imagine not having these babies. It just progressively keeps getting worse... Literally my brain can't compute not having these babies because they're my children now, and I felt them kick. They're properly formed little humans."
Broader Impact and Awareness Efforts
Jesy's campaign aims to add SMA to the NHS blood test typically administered at five days old, which currently screens for ten other conditions. She has been vocal about this issue, appearing on shows like This Morning last month, where she vowed to "shout from the rooftops" to drive change. The new documentary special is expected to shed further light on SMA, documenting the twins' journey and Jesy's relentless advocacy.
The series Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix will be available on Prime Video from February 13, with the one-off special to follow later in the year. This initiative highlights the power of celebrity influence in raising awareness for critical health issues and pushing for systemic improvements in newborn care.
