Jesy Nelson, former singer for Little Mix, has shared a heartwarming video of her 15-month-old twin daughters, Ocean and Story, following surgery to remove their feeding tubes. The girls were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in September 2025.
In a clip posted to Instagram, the twins are seen lying on mats, with Nelson captioning the video "my whole heart." Earlier this month, Nelson expressed her joy at "getting her daughter's faces back" after the nasogastric (NG) tubes were removed. She posted a video of the twins smiling, set to the song "My Little Light" by Mary of Gold, noting that it felt "like a dream" to see their faces unobstructed.
Nelson, 35, who shares the twins with ex Zion Foster, had previously spoken of her fear regarding the surgery to remove the tubes. "As terrified as I am about them having [their] operation tomorrow, I cannot wait to finally see their faces again and see their little dimples that are always under these plasters," she wrote prior to the procedure. She also mentioned the relief of no longer having to worry about dislodging the tubes while cuddling them.
Nasogastric (NG) tubes are a temporary measure for feeding when muscle weakness makes swallowing difficult or unsafe for children to consume adequate nutrition for growth.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic condition that weakens a person's muscles by affecting motor neuron cells in the spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle wasting. SMA Type 1, the most severe form, is apparent at birth and can significantly impact a child's ability to sit, crawl, or walk, often leading to death before the age of five without intervention. Early diagnosis and treatment can substantially improve outcomes.
Nelson has been a vocal advocate for newborn screening for SMA. In a significant development last month, she announced that the SMA Type 1 screening test would be rolled out across the entire United Kingdom. This expansion follows her tireless campaigning and a recent parliamentary debate concerning the implementation of the screening program. The UK-wide rollout is scheduled to begin in October.
"It's an emotional day. I'm still taking it in to be honest. It’s amazing. It's just mind-blowing. I feel so proud," Nelson stated after receiving confirmation of the nationwide rollout. "Future SMA baby’s lives are gonna look completely different. And that is all I ever wanted."