Jesy Nelson breaks down in tears after her petition to fund SMA1 screening reaches 100K signatures and will now be debated by MPs – following her twin daughters’ devastating diagnosis

Jesy Nelson was left in tears after her petition for SMA1 screening at birth reached 100,000 on Friday, meaning it now has to be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.

The former Little Mix star, 34, gave birth prematurely to twin daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, whom she shares with ex Zion Foster, in May 2025, and they were later diagnosed with the devastating condition.

The genetic neuromuscular disease SMA1 causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting, resulting in the need for feeding tubes due to severe swallowing, sucking and breathing difficulties.

Jesy has called on the NHS to expand standard heel prick testing to check for the condition, saying the test – which costs around £1 each – could save money [her twins’] By allowing legs to access treatment earlier.

The singer has now shared a clip on Instagram of herself and a group of friends watching the signatures rise, eventually reaching 100,000 and they were all bursting into both cheers and tears – the total has since risen to well over 120,000.

An emotional Jesy captioned the post: ‘Words can’t express how grateful I am that this moment happened right here! And it’s all thanks to you.

The former Little Mix star, 34, welcomed twin daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe in May 2025, who were later diagnosed with the devastating condition.

Jesy has called on the NHS to expand standard heel prick testing to check for the condition, saying the tests cost around £1 each and they could ‘save money’ [her twins’] enabling their legs to access treatment earlier

‘Thank you to everyone who took the time to sign this petition. You have no idea how important this is to me and the SMA community. This is the first hurdle but we did it and I truly believe we will create change together!’.

He announced that he was putting his music career on hold while he continues to campaign for screening for the condition to be included in newborn blood spot testing.

Appearing on Heart FM’s Breakfast show on Thursday, Jesy told Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston that her focus is now solely on the twins.

He explained: ‘Look listen I would never say never never to music but for me my girls are my main focus, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t have time, I really don’t.

‘They are my whole heart, soul and main focus and I want to continue to advocate for them and change this heel blood test and empower them, that’s my main focus.

Because this will determine their future. That’s my main focus right now.’

She previously told the Daily Mail that the medical procedures her babies had to endure every day felt like they were harming them as they cried and screamed.

She described caring for twins as an emotional rollercoaster; some days were ‘really awful’ and some days were a little lighter.

The star shared a clip on Instagram of herself and a group of friends watching the signatures rise, eventually reaching 100,000 and breaking into both cheers and tears

An emotional Jesy captioned the post: ‘Words can’t express how grateful I am that this moment happened right here! And it’s all thanks to you.

He has announced he is putting his music career on hold as he continues to campaign for screening for the condition to be included in newborn blood spot testing

She and her former partner Zion never expected to care for their baby this way, and Jesy says meeting their medical needs is a daily struggle.

Jesy told the Daily Mail: ‘Every day is so full, I could talk about it but I’ll never be able to explain how intense it is until you see it.

Meanwhile, Jesy has revealed the mystery behind her departure from the band in new Prime Video documentary Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix.

But despite the sisterly bond she formed with bandmates Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall, the singer said they were more like strangers after she abruptly left the band following a secret suicide attempt in 2020.

‘I had to think about where I was legally before arguing with girls; For example, can I get out of this now?’ he recalled.

‘Unfortunately, before I could let them know the solicitor informed them that I wanted to leave, so I think they were really hurt by it and it should never have ended this way.

‘I’m angry that this was taken away from me and I never had the opportunity to explain why I couldn’t do this anymore.’

At the time of his overdose, Nelson was scheduled to appear in the final of Little Mix’s BBC talent show The Search, and his absence led to presenter Chris Ramsey revealing he had ‘been ill’.

Meanwhile, Jesy has revealed the mystery behind her departure from the band in new Prime Video documentary Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix.

But despite the brotherly bond he formed with his bandmates, the singer said his bandmates became more like strangers after he abruptly left the band following a secret suicide attempt in 2020.

The singer said his lawyer’s decision to approve his departure without prior permission put him at odds with the band.

He added: ‘I mentally prepared myself and thought: ‘Yes, now I want to sit down with the girls and have a chat with them and tell them why I did what I did, how I felt, really explain it to them and try to get them to understand how I feel.’

‘Then my manager called and said: ‘I’ve talked to the girls and they’re happy to chat to you, but they don’t feel comfortable being in the same room with you unless there’s a therapist there.’

‘And I said: “What? I just got out of the hospital, this is when I need you the most.” I didn’t feel like they were my sisters. It’s been five years now; Every time I think about it I wonder, “Was it them or was it the management?” I ask. I’ll never know because we never had the opportunity to have that conversation.

‘Eventually there was a phone call and it was really weird. It was very strange because it was like talking to strangers.

‘This was the most uncomfortable phone call I’ve ever had, no one knew what to say and it was the last time I spoke to them as a group.’