Former Love Island star Chris Hughes and his girlfriend JoJo Siwa have shown a rare moment of unity and compassion as they publicly reached out to Chris’s ex, Jesy Nelson, following her heartbreaking revelation about her twin daughters’ health.
Jesy, 34, took to Instagram on Sunday to share that after months of what she described as “gruelling” hospital visits, her eight-month-old twin girls, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic neuromuscular condition that affects every muscle in the body, including breathing and swallowing.
Among the flood of support from fans and celebrities, Chris—who dated Jesy between 2018 and 2020—left a deeply personal message beneath her video. He told her she was a “warrior,” urged her to be gentle with herself, and said he was sending prayers to her family, adding that everyone was behind them. The comment struck a chord with followers, many praising Chris for reaching out to his former partner during such a painful chapter of her life.
JoJo also quietly added her voice to the outpouring of love, sharing a simple but heartfelt message of support, sending prayers and love to Jesy and her family. Fans were quick to note the maturity and kindness shown by both Chris and JoJo, with many describing it as a touching display of empathy beyond past relationships.
In her emotional video, Jesy explained that it was her own mother who first noticed something wasn’t right, after realising the twins were not moving as much as expected. Despite early reassurance from health professionals—who suggested delays could be linked to the girls’ premature birth—Jesy said her instincts told her something more serious was going on.
She revealed that without rapid treatment, SMA can be life-shortening, admitting she has spent months in what feels like “endless hospital appointments,” learning how to operate breathing machines and perform medical care no parent ever expects to do for their child. Fighting back tears, Jesy said the experience has felt like grieving the life she imagined she would have with her daughters, but insisted she believes Ocean and Story will defy the odds with the right support.
Jesy welcomed the twins with her partner Zion Foster in May 2025 after a high-risk pregnancy that saw her hospitalised for long periods. The girls were born at just 31 weeks and spent time in neonatal intensive care before finally coming home.
Despite the devastation of the diagnosis, Jesy said she chose to speak out to raise awareness of early warning signs and the importance of newborn screening, stressing that early intervention can make a life-changing difference.
