In an emotional video posted on Instagram on Sunday, the singer said her daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster, have SMA type 1, the most severe form of the disease. The condition causes progressive muscle weakness and can be life-threatening if it is not treated early.
Nelson explained that SMA affects every muscle in the body, including those needed for movement, breathing and swallowing. She said she first became concerned when her daughters were not moving their legs as much as expected and were struggling to feed.
After months of medical tests and appointments, the twins were assessed at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where doctors confirmed the diagnosis.
Nelson said she was told that her daughters will probably never be able to walk and may not regain full neck strength, meaning they will live with disabilities. She added that both girls have since received treatment, which she described as lifesaving.
“Without this treatment, they would die,” she said.
The singer also revealed that she has had to care for her daughters at home using breathing machines and other medical support. She described the past few months as the most heartbreaking period of her life but said she remains hopeful.
Nelson said she believes her daughters will “defy all the odds” and that she wanted to share their story to raise awareness and help other families seek early diagnosis and treatment.
Her partner, musician Zion Foster, reshared the video and posted a photo of the twins, saying they were “still smiling through all the challenges.”
Nelson, 34, gave birth to the twins prematurely at 31 weeks in May last year after experiencing complications during her pregnancy. She previously said becoming a mother made her feel proud of her body and what it had been through.
Nelson left Little Mix in 2020 and has since worked as a solo artist.
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