Jesse Nelson's twins have feeding tubes removed for SMA
The twin daughters of Jesse Nelson have had their feeding tubes removed as part of their treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The twin daughters of former Little Mix star Jesse Nelson have had their feeding tubes removed as part of their treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The procedure took place on the day of the broadcast, with Nelson posting a video online beforehand in which she told her daughters, "Today's the big day. We're taking these blasters off, aren't we?"
Ocean Jade and Story Monroe were diagnosed with SMA in January. The rare condition causes muscle weakness and can lead to difficulties with sitting up, crawling, breathing, swallowing, and bone issues. Nelson had previously said it was unlikely her daughters would ever walk or gain strength in their neck. As part of their early medical care, the twins were given feeding tubes that went up through their noses. Their removal marks a significant step forward, and Nelson described her daughters as "the bravest girls in the world."
Since the diagnosis, Nelson has been campaigning for SMA to be added to the newborn blood spot screening test, arguing that early treatment can avoid some of the more serious symptoms. In July, the Department of Health announced that a screening programme for SMA will be rolled out across England as part of an evaluation programme, beginning at the end of this year. The programme will see hundreds of thousands of babies checked with a heel prick test shortly after birth.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Jesse Nelson's twin daughters had their feeding tubes removed as part of their SMA treatment. | |
| Nelson has been campaigning for SMA to be added to the newborn blood spot screening test. | |
| The Department of Health announced a screening programme for SMA will be rolled out across England as part of an evaluation programme starting at the end of this year. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV Lunchtime News framed the story as a positive development, focusing on the emotional moment of the feeding tube removal and Nelson's campaign for newborn screening. The report also highlighted the government's recent announcement on a screening programme, giving the story a broader public health angle.
- “Today's the big day. We're taking these blasters off, aren't we?”
- “Jesse went on to say that her twins were the bravest girls in the world.”
- “The Department of Health announced in July that a screening program for SMA will be rolled out across England as part of an evaluation program, which will begin at the end of this year.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.