Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has shared a heartbreakingly beautiful milestone: her twin daughter Story has said 'Muma' for the first time. The 34-year-old singer posted a video on Instagram capturing the moment, captioning it: 'Story said Muma for the first time my life is complete.'
A Bittersweet Milestone
While a first word is a joyous occasion for any parent, for Jesy, it carries profound emotional weight. Her twin daughters, Story Monroe and Ocean Jade, were diagnosed earlier this year with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and can severely impact movement, breathing, and swallowing. Jesy has been candid about the reality of the diagnosis, previously stating that their prognosis means they are unlikely to reach their third birthday.
Story's first word is a rare moment of light in what Jesy has described as an often painful journey, given the severity of the condition.
Ongoing Challenges and Treatments
The milestone comes just weeks after Jesy admitted feeling 'heartbroken' watching her daughters undergo new treatments and adjustments, including being fitted with leg splints to support their joints. In an Instagram story, she shared: 'So, today I had to go and pick up the girls' splints because their feet are pointing this way and they need to be flattened out, and it made me really sad.' Holding up the splints, she added: 'But have you ever seen anything cuter in your life, look at them. This one is Story's, she has hearts and Ocean has butterflies. It made me sad though, it's just another reminder.'
Campaigning for Change
Jesy has been using her platform to advocate for routine newborn screening for SMA across England. While Scotland has introduced testing for all newborns within days of birth, Jesy described the development as 'bittersweet,' knowing earlier detection could have altered the trajectory for her own children. In a post on her Instagram Story last month, she wrote: 'Today my heart feels super heavy. It's a very bittersweet moment knowing that Scotland had become the first UK nation to screen babies for SMA. We're so close yet so far. I will never be able to understand why we still do not test for it here in England.'
She has launched a petition calling for SMA to be added to the standard heel-prick test given to babies shortly after birth. The campaign has already surpassed 100,000 signatures, making it eligible for parliamentary debate. Jesy has since become a patron of Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK, continuing to raise awareness and advocate for earlier intervention for families facing the same diagnosis.
Finding Light Amid Heartbreak
Despite the heartbreak, moments like Story saying 'Mama' offer a glimpse of light for Jesy. The singer continues to navigate the challenges of her daughters' condition while pushing for systemic change that could save other families from similar pain.
