Jesy Nelson Says She Noticed “Signs” Before Her Twins’ SMA Diagnosis

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Jesy Nelson is offering another heartbreaking look into her babies’ health. 

Shortly after revealing that her twin daughters, 7-month-old Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, have Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA)—a genetic condition that weakens muscles—Perrie Edwards, formerly of Little Mix, described the early signs of the condition her babies showed after they were born.

Jesy, 34, shared on the UK’s This Morning program on January 6th that she noticed early indicators before her child’s SMA diagnosis. However, she said that before leaving the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, doctors strongly emphasized that she shouldn’t compare her babies, as premature infants develop at different rates and won’t reach milestones at the same time.

Okay, so when I heard Dua say she was worried about her babies’ immune systems after bringing them home from the hospital, it just broke my heart! Like, of course she was concerned – she’s their mom, and they’re so tiny and precious! It just made me feel for her even more, knowing she was already thinking about keeping them safe and healthy. I totally get it, honestly. It’s just…so Dua!

She said her main concern was simply confirming they had a temperature and were still breathing. She wasn’t worried about checking for any movement in their legs.

As Jesy and her mother, Janice White, watched the twins grow, they began to notice subtle differences in their development, like how the babies often rested with their legs bent in a “frog-legged” position.

She remembers bringing the babies home and gently placing them on their playmat, telling her mother, ‘You can see their bellies moving as they breathe.’ Despite regular visits from healthcare professionals who assured her they were healthy and developing normally, it was her mother who first noticed something wasn’t right. She pointed out that the babies weren’t moving their legs as they should.

At first, Jesy thought Ocean and Story’s health issues were due to being born early. However, she also noticed their ability to move their legs was getting worse.

It’s incredibly frustrating because if this was just my fate, something I couldn’t change, it would be easier to cope with. But knowing there’s a solution that could dramatically improve things makes it impossible to accept, and that’s why I feel so strongly about speaking out.

The singer, known from X Factor, has been a strong advocate for her daughters’ health ever since they were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a condition affecting around 60% of babies, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Because SMA gets worse over time, her young daughters have already received a one-time treatment designed to prevent further muscle loss.

Jesy and Zion, who became engaged last September after dating for three years, were relieved to receive an early diagnosis for their daughters, but they were also informed that the condition would significantly change their children’s lives.

She shared that doctors have said her children may never walk or regain control of their necks, and will likely need wheelchairs for the rest of their lives. However, she remains hopeful, pointing to stories of other children who defied similar predictions and achieved amazing things. She believes focusing on positive outcomes will help make that possible for her children, too.

Keep reading to see more celebrities who have opened up about their health scares…

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest by Piper Niven during a wrestling match in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, saying they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment, she’d return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, because she planned to use them again and they needed to be in good condition.

Lupita Nyong’o received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the year she won an Academy Award for her role in 12 Years a Slave.

She didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2025, sharing on Instagram that she had privately struggled with the condition for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, many of us are taught to expect periods to be painful, and to accept that pain as a normal part of womanhood. This often leaves people dealing with a common issue in isolation.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she had been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, asking why she hadn’t been tweeting lately. The message playfully continued, ‘Have you ever thought maybe I wore pants so tight six months ago that I got a hernia and I’ve been afraid to mention it?’

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to fix a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained that his appendix had a hole in it – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to doing so.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

As a lifestyle expert, I was really concerned to hear about the Racing Louisville midfielder who unexpectedly collapsed early in their game against Seattle Reign on September 14th. It happened just a few minutes into the match at Lumen Field in Seattle, and it was definitely a scary moment for everyone involved.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, before suddenly collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

I was absolutely devastated when I heard about Savannah. The NWSL posted on X that she got immediate medical attention right on the field, and they rushed her to the hospital to check her out. Thankfully, they said she’s stable and alert, which is the biggest relief, but honestly, I couldn’t stop worrying until I saw that update. I’m just sending all my positive energy her way and hoping for a speedy recovery!

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this about Adam Devine! I just found out that the injuries he got when a cement truck hit him when he was eleven years old STILL bother him! Seriously, can you imagine? It’s just… heartbreaking, and makes me admire him even more that he’s still out there being hilarious despite everything he’s been through. I mean, a cement truck! It’s insane!

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I experience spasms throughout my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite perfect.”

Let me tell you, I recently had a really scary health experience. I ended up in the hospital because of some truly awful back pain. It got so bad during a road trip with a friend that I literally had to crawl on my hands and knees to get help. It was a painful reminder to take care of your body!

He described a strange tingling sensation that still lingered in his legs as of March 2025, sharing this on his Trading Secrets podcast. To give some context, he explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds. Now, he can’t even do a squat, can’t balance on one leg, and falls over – a feeling he compared to having a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE what happened! My idol, the incredible star of 30 Rock, had a scary health moment at a Knicks game back in March 2025. I heard they actually had to wheel him out of Madison Square Garden! I was so worried, it was awful! I just hope he’s okay.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain he’d actually gotten food poisoning and was starting to feel better.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was accidentally shot in the face during a clay pigeon shooting outing with her husband, Brendan Rooney, who was celebrating his birthday.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a weapon unsafely. Thankfully, @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her, determined the extent of her injuries, and drove her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye by less than an inch.

The Kim Possible actress explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind her eye. Doctors have advised against trying to remove it with surgery right now, and they’ll keep watching to see if anything changes. Luckily, her vision is still normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared how much she cherishes her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she realized how precious life is. She urged everyone to hug their loved ones often, because things can change so quickly.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, even though it can be harsh, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier” and receiving criticism online, doctors began commenting on her interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome, a condition often linked to high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted Schumer to realize she’d been receiving steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. She later learned she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own, which she called “the greatest news imaginable.” Schumer shared that she wouldn’t have known about the condition if not for the online scrutiny.

In December 2024, an AHL player suffered a skate cut during a game and needed 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son fully recovered, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald shared with ESPN how relieved they were, saying, “We feel very lucky, and no parent should have to go through that.”

Let me tell you, back in March 2022, I was so worried about Hailey Bieber! She was having breakfast with Justin when she suddenly started having what seemed like stroke symptoms. She shared on YouTube that Justin noticed something was wrong and asked if she was okay, but she couldn’t even respond. She tried to speak, but the right side of her face started drooping, and she just couldn’t get the words out. Thankfully, it stopped and her speech came back, but she went straight to the hospital to get checked out. They discovered she’d had a small blood clot travel to her brain, which doctors called a TIA. Later, they found out she had a small hole in her heart, a PFO, and that’s how the clot had gotten to her brain. She had a procedure to close the hole, and I’m so relieved to say she’s doing great now! It was a scary time, but thankfully everything worked out.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the rest of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the condition affected the nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well and feeling much better, adding that they were grateful he was going to be okay. It had been a frightening and unexpected situation.

As someone who often talks about wellness, I’ve been so moved by Jamie Foxx’s openness about his health journey. He initially kept what happened in April 2023 private, but recently shared a really powerful story in his Netflix special, What Had Happened Was…. He described having a terrible headache one day in Atlanta and then… nothing. He literally lost twenty days of his life. It turns out he initially went to a doctor who gave him a cortisone shot, but thankfully, his sister Deidra noticed something was seriously wrong and took him to the hospital. They discovered he’d had a brain bleed that led to a stroke. After surgery, he woke up on May 4th in a wheelchair, unable to walk. He then dedicated himself to rehab and therapy in Chicago. He’s so grateful for all the prayers he received, saying he truly needed every single one. It’s a reminder that even the strongest among us need support, and that vulnerability can be incredibly powerful.

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running a mile during the first challenge on the NBC competition show.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, everything went dark, but she then saw light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially begins to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the series, she experienced a severe headache while at the gym, which quickly escalated. She described becoming violently ill and realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain – due to a ruptured aneurysm. She underwent immediate surgery to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she experienced aphasia, struggling to speak coherently.

Though the aphasia eventually passed and she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had doubled in size, requiring a second surgery. This procedure initially failed, leading to a massive bleed and a dire prognosis. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke is now fully recovered and says she is “at a hundred per cent.”

I’m so glad Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, is doing better! She went through a really tough time earlier this year, suffering a stroke in January. She told Will Marfuggi from TopMob News that she immediately texted her family, sending a picture, and they all rushed to be with her. It ended up being a longer hospital stay than expected because, on top of the stroke, her lupus was flaring up and her kidneys were starting to fail. Thankfully, she’s now on the mend and says she’s doing great! She just had to work on regaining some motor skills, but overall she’s feeling good, and it’s such a relief to hear!

Shailene Woodley struggled with her health throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she explained that she experienced hearing loss, debilitating fatigue, and digestive issues. Doctors offered various diagnoses, leaving her feeling confused.

Drawing on her background in holistic medicine and herbalism, Shailene sought answers from both traditional doctors and alternative healers, hoping to find comfort and understanding. This search for wellness spanned a decade.

She explained that the physical discomfort led to anxiety around food and ultimately to struggles with body image, identity, and feeling safe in her own body.

Fortunately, after years of focusing on both her physical and mental wellbeing, Shailene is now healthy and happy. She shared that the issues eventually resolved themselves, and she’s grateful to be feeling well.

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2026-01-07 21:49