Jesy Nelson has melted hearts after sharing a tender video of one of her twin daughters doing sweet “ballerina” leg exercises as the family continues to navigate the babies’ devastating health diagnosis.
The former Little Mix star, 34, welcomed her twin girls, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, prematurely at just 31 weeks last year. In January, Jesy bravely revealed that the babies had been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1) — a rare genetic condition that weakens muscles by damaging the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord.
SMA Type 1 is the most severe form of the disease. It causes progressive muscle wasting and, without treatment, babies diagnosed with the condition often have a life expectancy of just two years.
Jesy and her former fiancé Zion Foster were told that their daughters may never walk and could face serious difficulties with breathing and swallowing as they grow older.
Despite the heartbreaking prognosis, the singer has remained open with fans about the twins’ journey and frequently shares updates on their progress.
In a touching new clip posted on social media, Jesy filmed one of the little girls lying calmly while gently bending and stretching her legs during daily exercises designed to help maintain mobility.
Encouraging her daughter in the video, Jesy said lovingly: “Are you gonna show them how you move your legs? You’re a little ballerina, come on. Good girl. Little ballerina, yes you are.”
The baby appeared relaxed as she slowly moved her legs while lying on a blanket, with a feeding tube visible in her nose to help support her breathing and chest function.
Exercises like progressive resistance training — sometimes using small resistance bands — can help improve strength and motor function in children living with SMA, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Jesy has become a vocal advocate for earlier testing after learning about the condition affecting her daughters. She is now campaigning for the NHS to expand the routine heel-prick newborn screening test to include SMA1.
The singer explained that the test costs around £1 and believes it could have changed everything for her twins.
She previously said that if the girls had been screened at birth and received treatment sooner, there was a chance it might have “saved their legs” and helped them avoid long-term disability.
Jesy’s emotional journey has also been documented in her recent fly-on-the-wall Amazon Prime series, which climbed to the top of the platform’s viewing charts. The documentary follows her life after leaving Little Mix in 2020 and the path that eventually led her to motherhood with Zion Foster.
Now, as she continues to fight for awareness and support for children with SMA, Jesy’s small but powerful moments — like calling her daughter a “little ballerina” — are reminding fans of the strength behind the family’s battle.
