Jesy Nelson has shared a rare moment of light amid an intensely painful chapter, posting a tender video of one of her baby daughters giggling in her grandmother’s arms — just days after admitting she had been reduced to tears by another reminder of her twins’ devastating health battle.
The former Little Mix star, 34, took to Instagram on Thursday to share the heart-warming clip, which shows one of her twin girls laughing uncontrollably as Jesy’s mum, Janice, gently nuzzles her face into the baby’s neck. The soft, joyful moment offered a brief pause from the reality Jesy has been openly navigating with fans.
Jesy welcomed twins Ocean Jade and Story Monroe prematurely in May 2025. Last month, she revealed that both girls had been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1) — the most severe form of the rare genetic condition that affects motor nerve cells and causes progressive muscle weakness.
Alongside the giggling clip, Jesy shared further intimate moments from home life, laughing over one daughter’s tiny “mullet” hairstyle and affectionately comparing the other to a Cabbage Patch doll as she ran her fingers through her thick, curly hair. The posts painted a picture of warmth and love — even as the family faces relentless medical challenges.
The uplifting scenes followed an emotional confession from Jesy earlier in the week, when she admitted she had broken down in tears after her daughters’ specialist feeding chairs arrived at home. Due to the effects of SMA1, Ocean and Story require feeding tubes and specially designed chairs to support posture and breathing.
Sharing a photo of the equipment, Jesy explained how confronting it felt.
“The girls need special feeding chairs that came yesterday and I couldn’t help but burst into tears when I saw them,” she wrote. “It’s just another reminder of another obstacle we have to tackle.”
Jesy has spoken candidly about how the condition affects daily life, including the invasive medical procedures she must carry out to support her daughters. While moments of joy exist, she has described the experience as an emotional rollercoaster — with some days feeling almost unbearable.
Determined to turn her pain into purpose, Jesy has become a vocal campaigner calling for the NHS to expand the standard newborn heel-prick test to include screening for SMA1. She has said that early detection could have prevented damage to her daughters’ legs, and her petition has already surpassed 100,000 signatures, triggering the requirement for parliamentary consideration.
Speaking recently on Heart FM, Jesy revealed she has placed her music career on hold to focus entirely on her daughters and her campaign.
“My girls are my whole heart and soul,” she said. “I want to keep advocating for them and do everything I can to give them the best future.”
She has also addressed the heartbreaking prognosis associated with SMA1, telling Great Company that she believes Ocean and Story can defy the odds.
“They are the strongest, most resilient babies,” she said. “I really believe they’re going to prove everyone wrong.”
As Jesy continues to fight for her daughters’ lives and futures, moments like a simple giggle — captured quietly on a phone — have taken on profound meaning. In the midst of fear, exhaustion and grief, they serve as reminders that joy still exists, and that love remains at the centre of everything she does.
