Jesy Nelson Holds Onto Hope for Her Twin Daughters After Rare Diagnosis

Jesy Nelson is staying hopeful as her 8-month-old twin daughters continue their fight against a rare and serious muscular disease.

The former Little Mix star recently opened up about her daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, who were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 1. Despite the challenges ahead, Nelson says she truly believes her girls will “defy all the odds.”

Speaking on the Feb. 4 episode of Great Company, hosted by Jamie Laing, the 34-year-old singer explained what the condition means for her children.

“Spinal muscular atrophy is a muscular wasting disease,” Nelson shared. “They don’t have a gene that we all have, so their muscles slowly deteriorate and waste away.”

Nelson welcomed her twins with her former fiancé, musician Zion Foster, on May 15, 2025. The babies were born prematurely at 31 weeks after Nelson underwent emergency surgery. During her pregnancy, the twins also faced twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a rare condition that affects twins who share one placenta and causes an imbalance of nutrients in the womb.

The SMA diagnosis came while the girls were still in the hospital’s neonatal unit.

“If you don’t get treatment in time, the muscles can stop working altogether,” Nelson said on the podcast. “That affects breathing, swallowing — everything.”

Despite the frightening reality, Nelson said she has chosen to focus on hope.

“I just have to accept it and try to make the best out of this situation,” she said. “My girls are the strongest, most resilient babies.”

She added that their strength so far gives her faith. “They had TTTS, they had SMA, and they’re still here. I really believe they’re going to defy all the odds.”

Last month, Nelson shared an emotional video on Instagram revealing the diagnosis. She admitted the past few months had been “the most heartbreaking time” of her life and said she felt like she was grieving the future she imagined for her children.

Doctors have told her the girls may never walk and could have lasting disabilities, but Nelson said treatment and hope are what matter most right now.

Before ending her message, she urged other parents to trust their instincts and seek medical help quickly. “Time is of the essence,” she said, stressing that early treatment can save lives.

For now, Nelson says she is simply grateful that Ocean and Story are still with her — and she’s holding onto hope every step of the way.