Singer says heatwave forces twins to wear spinal jackets and splints

A former Little Mix singer posted on Instagram that she cried while fitting her twin daughters with spinal jackets and splints during the current UK heatwave. The 34-year-old said the devices must be worn daily even though they cause discomfort. She wrote that without them the children's spines and feet would deteriorate further.

Diagnosis and treatment Earlier this year the singer announced that the twins had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. According to the NHS the condition can also affect breathing, swallowing, and bone and joint development.

The twins received a one-time gene therapy infusion that stops additional muscle loss but does not restore muscles already affected. The singer stated the children are unlikely to walk or regain neck strength.

Campaign for newborn screening After the diagnosis the singer launched a petition calling for spinal muscular atrophy to be added to the UK's newborn heel-prick screening test. The petition collected more than 100,000 signatures, which qualifies it for consideration in the House of Commons.

The singer also became a patron of Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK and met Health Secretary Wes Streeting to discuss early detection. She said she will continue speaking about the issue until screening policy changes.