Jesy Nelson Shares Heartwarming Video of Her Twins Holding Hands During Health Struggles

Jesy Nelson recently shared a touching video of her twin daughters clasping hands, following an emotional weekend where she admitted to breaking down in tears over their ongoing health challenges.

The 34-year-old former Little Mix singer became a mother to Ocean Jade and Story Monroe in May 2025, giving birth prematurely with her former partner, Zion Foster.

However, last month brought heartbreaking news as Jesy revealed that both of her daughters have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1), a serious genetic neuromuscular disorder.

SMA1 is known to weaken muscles due to its impact on the motor nerve cells within the spinal cord. It is both the most prevalent and severe type, often resulting in a life expectancy of less than two years if left untreated.

Jesy has been openly discussing this difficult journey in her documentary, “Life After Little Mix,” and frequently provides updates on her daughters’ conditions via Instagram.

And on Tuesday morning, she took to her Instagram Stories to show followers an adorable clip of the two girls lying next to each other in their bassinets and reaching out to hold the other’s hand.

Jesy Nelson has shared a heartwarming video of her twin daughters holding hands on Tuesday, after revealing that she broke down in tears at the weekend amid their devastating health battle 

The Little Mix star, 34, who welcomed daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe prematurely in May 2025 – revealed last month that both girls had been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1

The singer set the video to Ben E. King’s classic Stand By Me and followed it up with a sweet snap of the sisters having both fallen fast asleep while still hand-in-hand.

The heartwarming update comes after Jesy revealed that she had burst into tears on Saturday when she saw the girls’ special feeding chairs.

As SMA1 causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting, Ocean and Story require feeding tubes due to severe swallowing, sucking and breathing difficulties, and need specially designed chairs to give them extra postural support.

After the two chairs arrived, the sight brought their mother to tears, as she explained it was ‘another reminder of another obstacle we have to tackle’ amid their health battle.

Alongside a snap of the chair, she penned: ‘So the girls need special feeding chairs that came yesterday and I couldn’t help but burst into tears yesterday when I saw them.

‘It just made me feel so sad as it’s just another reminder of another obstacle we have to tackle. Do any other SMA mummies feel this way?’

As well as caring for her babies, Jesy is currently hard at work campaigning for the NHS to expand the standard heel prick test to check for SMA1.

She has said that had her twins had the test, which costs around £1, and been diagnosed and started treatment earlier, their legs could’ve been saved. 

Jesy candidly opened up on her babies’ heartbreaking diagnosis in her documentary Life After Little Mix (seen), and often shares updates about their health battle on Instagram

And on Tuesday morning, she took to her Instagram Stories to show followers an adorable clip of the two girls lying next to each other in their bassinets and reaching out to hold the other’s hand

And the star has already succeeded in getting a petition calling for the government to fund and fast-track to process to reach over 100,000 signatures, meaning Parliament must consider it for debate.

But as she continues to push for the screening to be included in the newborn blood spot test, care for her daughters’ medical needs, Jesy revealed she has parked her music career.

Appearing on Heart FM’s Breakfast show, she told Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston: ‘Look listen I’d never say never to music, but for me, my girls are my main focus.

‘I’ll be honest with you, I’ve not got time, I really don’t. They are my whole heart and soul and my main focus, and I want to continue advocating for them and getting this heel prick test changed and getting them strong, that’s my main focus.

‘Because that’s going to determine their future. That’s my main focus right now.’

She previously described caring for the twins to Daily Mail as an emotional rollercoaster, with some days being ‘really f***ing s***’ and others slightly lighter.

Jesy explained that she and ex-partner Zion never expected to be caring for their babies in such a way, and having to provide for their medical needs is a daily struggle.

She told how the medical procedures her babies must endure each day leave her feeling like she’s hurting them as they cry and scream.

The heartwarming update comes after Jesy revealed that she had burst into tears on Saturday when she saw the girls’ special feeding chairs 

‘Every day is so full-on – I can speak about it, but I’ll never be able to explain how intense it is until you see it,’ Jesy told the Daily Mail.

‘There are a lot of medical things I have to do which I am still really struggling with, I’ll be honest with you. I never expected that to be part of my life and it’s tough.

‘They’re so tiny and I have to do things which I know are doing them good but at the time, when they’re crying and screaming, it feels like I’m hurting them and I hate that I have to be the person to do that. I just want to be their mum.’

When asked about a typical day with her twin daughters, Jesy said it’s impossible to describe, as no day is ever the same emotionally.

She added: ‘I don’t know how to explain my life in the day because sometimes it’s really f***ing s*** and then, other times, I don’t necessarily forget about their diagnosis but there are days [that] are lighter and they’re not as heavy.

‘So many mums have told me that’s what it’s going to be like and that’s why I need to take each day as it comes. It’s a rollercoaster; I don’t feel like this is going to be a steady journey at all.’

She has also addressed the tragic prognosis that Ocean and Story may not live beyond the age of two.

As well as caring for her babies, Jesy is currently hard at work campaigning for the NHS to expand the standard heel prick test to check for SMA1 (seen with Zion)

Speaking to Jamie Laing on his Great Company podcast, Jesy said she was hopeful that her babies will defy the odds now that they are receiving treatment.

‘So spinal muscular atrophy is a muscular wasting disease, so they don’t have a gene that we all have in our body,’ she said.

‘Their muscles are now deteriorating and wasting away, and if you don’t get them treatment in time, eventually the muscles will all just die, which then affects the breathing, the swallowing, everything. And they will die before the age of two.

‘It’s not OK, but it is what it is, and I just have to accept it, and now just try and make the best out of this situation… And my girls are the strongest, most resilient babies and I really believe that they are going to defy all the odds.’