Singer Jesy Nelson recently shared an emotional update regarding the complications she is experiencing in her pregnancy with twin babies. Former Little Mix singer Jesy, who is having twins with partner Zion Foster, announced that she has been diagnosed with pre-twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (pre-TTTS). The condition, which is present in pregnancies involving twins with a shared placenta, has serious risks involved and needs intense medical supervision. As Nelson embarks on this difficult journey, her story enlightens us about a rare but dangerous condition many expectant parents may not know much about.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare but dangerous condition that arises in monochorionic twin pregnancies, in which identical twins share a single placenta. The placenta supplies the developing babies with oxygen, nutrients, and blood flow, but in TTTS, there is an imbalance of blood vessels that interconnect the twins, and thus the vital resources are not evenly distributed. One twin, or the donor twin, shares excess blood with the other, referred to as the recipient twin. This leads to one baby becoming malnourished and possibly anemic, and the other in danger of heart problems due to too much blood.

Nelson described her diagnosis in a heartfelt Instagram video, explaining that she is currently in the pre-stage of TTTS and undergoing frequent monitoring. "I am being scanned twice a week, and each time, things have gotten a little worse," she shared, expressing her fears and hopes for the health of her babies.

Potential Risks of TTTS

If left untreated, TTTS can have devastating consequences. Medical research indicates that:

• 90% of the cases of untreated TTTS lead to loss of one or both twins.
• Despite treatment, only a 70% survival rate for both twins is assured.
• Severe forms can result in preterm labor, cardiac failure in the recipient twin, and organ failure in the donor twin.
• Complications in long-term survivors include neurological damage and developmental delay in surviving infants.

TTTS usually advances in stages, beginning with minimal changes in fluid levels and worsening as one twin continues to get an unequal share of blood. In extreme cases, fetal laser surgery, referred to as the Solomon technique, can be employed to divide the blood vessels and balance the twins.

Why Identical Twin Pregnancies Are More Complicated

Identical twins may develop differently, and their own unique form of placental sharing can have a dramatic effect on pregnancy risk. Jesy Nelson's twins are considered monochorionic diamniotic (mono/di), which means they share a placenta but have two amniotic sacs. This is the type of pregnancy in about 70% of identical twin pregnancies and carries an increased risk of complications like TTTS, umbilical cord entanglement, and growth restriction.

Conversely, dichorionic diamniotic (di/di) twins both have a separate placenta and amniotic sac, which greatly diminishes the threat of TTTS. Twin pregnancy type is normally identified by early ultrasound, with physicians being able to track future complications from inception.

Other Twin Pregnancy Health Risks

Twin pregnancies, even without the presence of TTTS, entail a variety of health risks to the mother as well as infants:

1. Premature Birth

Over 60% of twin pregnancies end in premature delivery, with birth usually taking place before 37 weeks. Premature infants can have immature organs and need neonatal intensive care (NICU) assistance to assist with breathing, feeding, and infection fighting.

2. Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Pregnant women with multiples are at increased risk of having high blood pressure during pregnancy. This, if left untreated, can result in preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can result in damage to organs, preterm labor, and in some cases, maternal or fetal death.

3. Anemia

Pregnant women carrying multiples are twice as likely to experience anemia, a condition where the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and complications during delivery.

4. Birth Defects

According to John Hopkins Medicine, multiple birth babies are twice as likely to have congenital abnormalities compared to single births. These can include heart defects, neural tube defects, and gastrointestinal issues.

5. Amniotic Fluid Imbalances

When twins have to share a placenta, they are more likely to have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) or oligohydramnios (not enough amniotic fluid). Both result in distress to the babies during fetal development and can result in premature labor.

6. Postpartum Hemorrhage

Twins are at increased risk of excessive postpartum hemorrhage because their uterus is larger and there are greater blood supply needs.

Jesy Nelson's openness about her challenging experience is raising awareness for TTTS, a condition that few individuals—let alone expectant mothers and fathers—might be aware of. Through her tearful video, Nelson stressed the significance of knowing about twin pregnancies aside from the thrill of having multiples. "We had no idea that this type of thing occurs when you're having twins. We just desperately want to make people aware of this because there are so many people who aren't aware."

Her case reminds us of the intricacies involved in twin pregnancy and the significance of early identification and medical management. For mothers carrying twins, frequent ultrasounds and vigilance can become a life-and-death issue for early detection and better outcomes of both babies.

Through constant medical attention and care, she and her partner Zion Foster remain positive and get ready for their babies to be born. In other parents whose situations are no different, the story of Nelson highlights awareness, medical progress, and emotional encouragement in handling complicated pregnancies.

The expecting parents of twin siblings are advised to discuss TTTS screening and possible interventions with their physicians to give their babies the best chance.

Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker faces a potential ban from boxing after testing positive for cocaine, casting a shadow over his October 26 fight with Briton Fabio Wardley. As reported by BBC Sport, the 33-year-old New Zealander returned a positive result for a recreational drug, not a performance-enhancing substance. The sample was collected a day earlier by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

His promoter, Queensberry Promotions, acknowledged the “adverse finding” but said no further comment would be made while the matter is being investigated. Parker’s UK manager Spencer Brown told Reuters they were “in total shock” and intend to get to the bottom of the development.

Parker could face a ban ranging from three months to two years, depending on circumstances. Although UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control will determine sanctions, UKAD did not administer the test and must conduct its own inquiry before issuing any decision.

The case comes amid broader debates on how recreational drug use should be penalized in elite sports. Sanctions have varied widely in recent years, from a four-year ban for boxer Liam Cameron in 2019 to a three-month ban for rugby league player Adam Rusling in 2024.

Parker, who held the heavyweight world title from 2016–2018, had hoped to work his way toward a fight with undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk before his surprise loss to Wardley.

Why the Distinction Matters

Parker’s positive test for cocaine has reignited discussion around an important but often misunderstood issue: the difference between recreational drugs and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). While both categories are prohibited in competitive sport, their purpose, impact, and penalties differ significantly.

Recreational Drug Use in Sports

Recreational drug use reflects broader social trends. Studies in Western countries show that up to 38% of people have used an illicit drug at least once, with even higher rates among young adults. This behavior inevitably spills into sport, where athletes, like anyone else, may be exposed socially or recreationally.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) classifies prohibited substances into categories such as stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, beta-blockers, and more. Among athletes, the most commonly misused recreational substances include alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis, particularly among adolescents and collegiate players.

Why Athletes Use Them

• Recreational use in sports can be driven by:
• Social environments
• Stress or pressure to perform
• Age segregation and peer dynamics
• Motivation to relax or cope

In some sports, especially high-contact ones, alcohol use has been shown to be more prevalent.

Testing and Consequences

Although these drugs do not enhance performance, they raise concerns about athlete safety, decision-making, and conduct. Penalties vary widely, as seen in recent cases: some athletes have received multi-year bans, while others served suspensions as short as three months.

Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs)

PEDs are substances deliberately used to boost strength, stamina, speed, or recovery beyond natural limits. Their misuse is far more dangerous and directly threatens fair play.

Common PED categories include:

• Anabolic steroids
• Growth hormone and peptide hormones
• Erythropoietin (EPO)
• Stimulants
• Blood doping agents

These substances are often abused to gain a competitive edge, and their health consequences can be severe.

Risks and Health Damage

PEDs can cause:

• Hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, heart attacks
• Liver toxicity
• Infertility, hormonal damage, genital changes
• Psychiatric effects such as aggression, depression, mania
• Addiction and withdrawal symptoms
• In extreme cases, death

Steroids are regulated as Schedule III substances, and many PEDs banned in sport are also restricted in general medicine. To ensure athletes can receive legitimate medical treatment, WADA allows Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) under strict criteria.

Actor Jarryd Nurden, a known name in theatre has finally made his return to the West End stage six months after his surgery that removed half of his lung due to a rare cancer.

Jarryd first thought he had nothing more than a stubborn winter bug. In late 2022, he came down with what felt like a “very bad flu,” pushing through fatigue and discomfort while performing in a Christmas pantomime. He assumed it was simply illness made worse by long rehearsals and a busy stage schedule. But the symptoms persisted, and further medical checks revealed something far more serious than a seasonal infection.

A Flu That Turned Out To Be A Lung Cancer

What Jarryd thought was flu turned out to be a rare form of lung cancer. The doctors re-examined the old medical scans, which had shown minor scarring, which was thought to be form a childhood drowning accident. This is when the doctors discovered a tumor had doubled in size, and it grew from two to four centimeters.

In January 2023, the same day he received news that he had secured a role in We Will Rock You, Jarryd attended an appointment at Guy’s Hospital, where doctors told him about the tumor. “When I had that phone call, that’s when my world crashed,” he told The Independent. “I was like: ‘I’m properly screwed.’”

The Diagnosis Of The Rare Lung Cancer

After months of tests and a keyhole surgery in August 2023 to examine the tumor, doctors confirmed it was primary malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm of the lung (atypical carcinoid), a rare form of lung cancer.

“That phone call I’ve always described as being underwater,” he said to The Independent. “Everything just slows down, and you’re like: ‘Oh, I have cancer’… I don’t drink, I don’t smoke… How’s this happening?”

Though the tumor was removed, some cancerous cells remained. Jarryd was given a choice: chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or a major operation to remove part of his lung. He chose surgery.

In October 2023, he underwent a completion lobectomy, removing the entire lower lobe of his left lung. The recovery was brutal. “Recovery was really hard… I think it was touch and go at one point,” he shared with The Independent. Complications meant four months in hospital, a second open surgery due to infections, and enduring the most intense pain he had ever felt.

Despite the hardship, the Actors’ Trust helped support him financially while he was unable to work. He underwent additional treatment in July 2024 to insert stents into a chest fistula and continued healing.

Way Back To The Stage

Against all odds, just three months after his last surgery, Jarryd accepted an offer to join the international tour of Chicago, covering the role of Mary Sunshine. He rehearsed for one day in London, flew to China, had a two-hour rehearsal, and stepped onstage.

“It was do or die… The challenge was intense,” he told The Independent. Taking his bow afterward was overwhelming. “It was immense gratitude… for being back on stage… being with such a supportive company.”

He added, “I think when you go through something very life-changing, you stop sweating the small stuff… You do have that second chance at life, essentially.”

Texas reported more than 3,500 cases of whooping cough or pertussis in this year, revealed the state figures. This is four times the number as last year and the highest since 2013. This is not the first time it is happening in Texas, in fact, last year, Texas had experienced a high number of cases. The state has witnessed high year-over-year increases in reported pertussis cases. Right now, only seven weeks are left in the year, and the numbers are likely to grow.

What Is Whooping Cough?

As per the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough is a respiratory illness that is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease is only found in humans. Whooping cough bacteria attach to the cilia, which are the tiny, hair-like extensions that line part of the upper respiratory system. The bacteria release toxins (poisons), which damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.

What Are The Symptoms Of Whooping Cough?

The CDC notes that it usually takes 5 to 10 days for symptoms to show up after the person is exposed to the bacteria that causes whooping cough. Sometimes, symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks.

Whooping cough appears similar to a common cold early on. Healthcare providers often don't suspect or diagnose it until more severe symptoms appear.

Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:

• Runny or stuffed-up nose
• Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)
• Mild, occasional cough
• Babies may struggle to breathe: many babies with whooping cough do not even cough at all. This means they have apnea or life-threatening pauses in breathing. This apnea cause cyanosis, or to turn blue or they may struggle to breathe.

Later symptoms of whooping cough

• Make a high-pitched "whoop" when they inhale after a coughing fit
• Vomit during or after coughing fits
• Feel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between fits
• Have difficulty sleeping at night
• Struggle to breathe
• Fracture (break) a rib

What Is Happening In Texas?

Reported cases in Texas and nationwide dropped during and right after the COVID-19 pandemic, but have surged again in recent years.

Texas logged only 340 cases in 2023, but that number jumped to 1,907 last year, with more than half reported in November and December, according to provisional data. It marks the second year in a row that the state’s health agency has issued a health alert.

cases this year have been reported in children, though no deaths have occurred.

The rapid rise in infections coincides with falling vaccination rates in Texas and across the country. Infectious disease specialists stress that immunization remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and curb its spread.

About 92% of kindergarteners nationwide were vaccinated against whooping cough in the 2024–25 school year, down from roughly 95% before the pandemic, according to federal data.

Does Vaccination Help?

Vaccination doesn’t fully prevent infection, but it usually leads to much milder symptoms, the Texas alert notes.

Infants and children receive the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The CDC currently recommends five doses: at 2, 4, and 6 months; a fourth dose at 15–18 months; and a fifth between ages 4 and 6.