Former Little Mix star ‘bittersweet’ after SMA screening decision

Health & Fitness
24 Mar 2026 • 3:49 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson described her feelings as "bittersweet" after Scotland became the first UK nation to screen newborns for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
  • Nelson's twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson, were diagnosed with SMA earlier this year, a genetic condition causing progressive muscle wastage.
  • She expressed frustration that England does not yet offer universal screening for the condition, noting her twins' lives could have been different with early detection.
  • Her daughters received a one-off infusion treatment to prevent further muscle loss, though it cannot restore muscles already affected.
  • Nelson has actively campaigned for universal newborn screening, launching a petition that garnered over 100,000 signatures and becoming a patron for Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK.

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