John Travolta's son dies, 16 y.o.

Anonymous

NASSAU (Reuters) - The teenage son of actor John Travolta died suddenly on Friday during a family vacation in the Bahamas, according to the family's lawyer.

Jett Travolta, 16, suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island, attorney Michael Ossi said.

Attempts were made to revive him, but he died at the scene, Ossi said.

Jett, who had a history of seizures, was the eldest child of Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston. They also have a daughter, Ella Blue, who was born in 2000.

(Reporting by John Marquis; editing by Jane Sutton and Mohammad Zargham)

KLynn

Wow that just sucks......John Travolta has always been my favorite actor, I just adore him, he seems so kind to everyone around him...Doesn't matter how rich or famous you are, the loss of a child has to be so unbearable..I met a lawyer recently that is one of JT's many lawyers, he said something about JT's son being autistic, I don't know if that  is part of the seizure problem or not.. My heart breaks for him and his family...KLynn

Pharmmom

I was looking at a picture of Jett and he looked like my daughter Katie who is autistic.  I heard he had a developmental delay.   My daughter is big like he was and there was something about the expression on his face that made me question if he was on the spectrum.  I love John Travolta.  He is such a wonderful man.  So caring and open.  This has got to be unreal and sooooo devastating for him and his wife Kelly.  I felt sick for them.  Horrible.  They will be in my prayers.  Death of a child is an equalizer.  Super rich or super famous will not be of any comfort at a time like this.  So sad. 

Pharmmom

I just found a clip of a trip to Paris the Travolta's were on a few weeks ago.  His son was definitely autistic.  If you have an autistic child or work with autistic kids you can spot it a mile away.  What I'm reading now is his Scientology religion is what prevented him from acknowledging it.  That is very sad.  A 16 year old who did not speak and who was led by the arm and then by the hand by his dad to a waiting car.  John Travolta looked like a cat on a hot tin roof in this video.  Reminds me of us when we go on vacation with out daughter.  You never know what is going to happen.  Really sad.

Ivylane

pharmmom:  I just saw that clip too....I noticed that his Dad (JT) was leading him by the arm also.  My neighbor's child is autistic (he is 21 now) and has that same "look" as Jett Travolta. I don't mean that in a disparaging way, so I hope I am not being insensitive. It is just that he has the appearance of not being fully aware of what is going on around him.  My prayers are with the Travolta family.  How truly tragic.

iodine

No one deserves this tragedy. 

Anonymous

I found it odd that he was seen last -- the day before, going into the bathroom, then he was found the next day (yesterday) by a caretaker.

Apparently the Travoltas hired caretakers for their son.   Why did this happen??  Sad!!  I bet the caretake is fired!

Member_of_the_Club

As the mother of a child with an autistic spectrum disorder, I can't help but be angry at the Travoltas, even as I acknowledge their terrible loss.  Becouse of Scientology they refused to acknowledge their son's autism and they didn't get him any of the interventions that would have enhanced his life. I'm sorry, it just makes me angry.

NancyD

They did acknowledge that something was wrong with him, but called it something else. Something like Kawasagi's disease.

Paulette531

Nowhere does it say Jett was autistic...so how can you (MOTC, ivylane and Pharrmom) just assume he was autistic, because the way he walked or because his father was leading him by the arm or a "look" he had? Why is it so hard to accept that just maybe he did have Kawasaki Disease? And how do you know Scientology had anything to do with his care, because the Travolta's paractice Scientology? What I find truly a shame is all these assumptions being made while a very tragic event has occured.

Anonymous

Paulette, there have been several news articles saying he had autism and then Kelly Preston said her son's condition was caused by carpet cleaning solutions and other environmental things.  Then John Travolta said it Kawasaki's ....  so the media has had conflicting stories and reports .. The ladies aren't "surmising" ... just going off what MSM has been offering up or speculating on.

Anonymous

I don't want to minimize their heartache ...  its a tragedy.

Paulette:  here is why the uproar about autism/kawasaki/scientology:

-------------------------

Many people suspected that Jett was autistic (videos which were once available online that 'clearly' demonstrate Jett's developmental disability can no longer be found), but Travolta and Preston are prominent Scientologists and autism is not recognized by the cult religion:

In the past there have been reports that Jett was autistic, but Travolta always denied it, saying instead that his son suffered from Kawasaki Syndrome, a disease characterized by high fever, skin rash and swelling of the lymph nodes. Travolta follows Scientology, which does not recognize autism.
Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com

One of the tenets of Scientology is that mental illness is psychosomatic, and can only be treated through spiritual healing. You may remember Tom Cruise earning significant flak for statements to Matt Lauer concerning mental illness, namely his remark that psychiatry is a pseudo-science. Because of this fundamental belief on behalf of Scientologists, Jett certainly wasn't treated for autism, and was likely not appropriately treated for Kawasaki disease either (especially if his condition was misdiagnosed, as many people suspect it was).

Last year, one website wrote an eerily prophetic post concerning this event:

Four years ago, Kelly got out her hounds-tooth coat and pipe and giant magnifying glass and used her sleuthiness to determine that the cause was environmental toxins. Specifically, carpet cleaning chemicals. Then Kelly used a Scientology endorsed program created by L. Ron Hubbard to cure him. And it worked! No, wait, did I say, "it worked"? I meant to say, "it failed completely!"The real problem of course isn't carpet based treachery, it's that Jett has autism, and no amount of meadow-scented deception is behind it. He's never been officially diagnosed of course, since the "church" won't allow it, but outsiders who know the affliction well say the signs are clearly evident.
I say we give the Scientology method a few more years to kick in. Soon, Jett will be dead. Ta-da!

Source: wwtdd.com

Critics of Scientology have been crying 'child abuse' for years in respect to the Travolta's disregard for autism and their unwillingness to address Jett's needs.

Folks picketed the Travolta/Preston family, saying that their refusal to seek treatment for the boy bordered on-or, you know, flat out was-child abuse. Travolta's brother Joey even produced a movie about the condition, but the family continued to shut down any reports that autism was involved.
Source: gawker.com

Neighbours of the Travolta's, who also happen to be parents of an autistic child, had nothing short of shocking stories to tell with regard to Jett and how he was treated within the family:

The Kennys also claim that Kelly and John "let Jett sit in front of video games all day eating junk food, while they eat the best organic food money can buy. They exclude Jett from all social events because they are embarrassed."
"Once," reports Kenny, "when Kelly took him to the movies, Jett started to have a meltdown and Kelly pointed at the nanny and ordered, 'Take care of it.'"

"Jett does not speak at all," confirms Kenny. "He has not even been taught how to communicate. We struggle every week to pay for our daughter's therapy. How dare he [Travolta] ruin his own son's chances of recovering! We want to get the word out on this."

lookingforward4more

I believe that it was fairly common knowledge that Jet's Kawasaki disease was treated when he was two years old. JT was on Larry King himself and stated that they believed it was caused by them frequently cleaning the child's carpets. JT stated that the disease was found within days of the child's symptoms and successfully treated. Kawasaki disease can cause heart problems but is not noted to cause developmental delays. The Travoltas have openly acknowledged that Jett suffered from Kawasaki and "developmental issues". Their religion doe NOT recognize Autism or any other psychological issue. They can call it whatever they want, but the poor boy is dead and its such a sad event!

 I personally don't agree with the Scientology viewpoints regarding diseases of the mind and autism. It does LOOK like the child had some sort of autism and IF he did then it should not have been denied. But I am only guessing on that.

Member_of_the_Club

It has been common knowledge within autism circles for years that Jett had autism.  Some of the news reports are pointing out that Kawasaki's does not cause the kind of neurological issues Jett had all his life.  John Travolta's brother, Joey, made a documentary about children with autism, and while he doesn't mention his nephew the word is that he believed Jett had autism.  The fact that he had a seizure disorder, very common with kids on the spectrum, reenforces the idea that he had autism.  And there is no question that Scientology refuses to acknowledge autism.

 I am sorry for their loss and I have no doubt they loved their son immensely.  But the whole story of Jett's life is very sad to me. 

Member_of_the_Club

The other thing that makes me mad is this absurd idea peddled by Scientology that autism is a psychological illness, which is why they don't acknowledge it.  Autism is a physical disorder, not a mental illness.  

BMac

My heart goes out to John Travolta, Kelly Preston and their daughter for their terrible loss.  What a terrible tragedy.  As a mother I am appalled that parents would not do everything in their power to help their child.  I just don't understand it.

Pharmmom

I just got on here again to read the posts.  I'm sorry but as was so clearly stated in the posts it was common knowledge that this child had autism.  This carpet cleaning stuff is made up to take the emphasis off the autism.  There is an interview on CNN with john travolta and then you can click on a video of him and the family in Paris.  You see the way the child walked, did not speak and had a blank look.  Anyone with an autistic child can spot an autistic child a mile away.  No offense Paulette but you must have no experience with this and the other moms on this board do and we know what we saw.  It in no way makes less of the Travolta's family trajedy.  My heart goes out to them.  Its horrible. 

Paulette531

Pharmmom...I have an autistic child that lives next door to me...she is severly autistic, not sure where she fits on the spectrum. I am also in contact with austic children when I take my grandson to speech therapy. And two boys I can think of at speech therapy you would NEVER know by looking at them that they are autistic.

I have been reading every article I can find about the Travolta's and stand by what I wrote earlier. Nobody but the Travolta's know what afflicted their son...or perhaps some doctors he was taken too know but the rest is speculation and Hollywood gossip. 

Anonymous

It is obvious from his demeanor and gait that Jett had some type of impairment that was probably neurological in nature.  Whether it was caused by autism, or something else cannot be determined just by looking. There are literally thousands of things that can go wrong in the human brain, and they all cause similar, but not necessarily identical symptoms.  It is the art of sorting out the specific constellation of symptoms that affect a person that leads to a diagnosis. 

No matter what the source of his difficulties was, his parents are surely mourning his loss, and deserve our sympathy and prayers. 

No parent should ever have to bury their child, and all the fame and money in the world won't make it any easier.

Member_of_the_Club

Paulette, my son is very high functioning and you would probably never know from looking at him either, but I would know and I would probably recognize those two boys you see in the waiting room as well.  I live in this world.  But Jett clearly wasn't high functioning and I think it is very clear from the video in Paris -- no affect, no communication, finger play.  In fact, in every picture I've seen of him, everyone else in the picture is looking at the camera except Jett.  

Perhaps the reason Pharmom and i are having such a strong reaction is because of the way autism is treated as a source of shame.  I see this again and again, the denial of parents, the potency of the label.  Since I've had cancer I can't help but make comparisons.  We call cancer by its proper name.  we see it as a disease and not a failing.  We need to reach that point with autism.

 One other thing that was very clear from that Paris video is that Jett's parents loved him a great deal.  I can't imagine their loss. 

lizzy68

So sad your all talking to much trash!!  If they were so embaressed  of Jett why would they take him in public?   All I can say is this is such a tragic loss of a young man...

 My prayers and GOOD thoughts go to the Travolta's 

Lizzy   p.s try being a little less bitter as this is AMERICA!!!!!

Member_of_the_Club

I don't believe they were embarrassed by Jett.  I believe they embraced him.  Thats part of what makes this all so sad.  They obviously loved their son, but because they belong to a religion that says people with autism are "degraded" they could never accept his real issue.  They couldn't believe their beloved son was degraded.  Its a real tragedy.  And it makes me angry.

shokk

I did my college training in special education with an emphasis on teaching children with Autism.......now granted this was in 77 and 78 but I was taught that autism is a type of mental retardation.........is that incorrect?.......of course there are different types of autism and different levels of the severity of the disorder.........some children can speak some cannot.......some is very limited..........I was never taught that it was considered a disease...........more like a syndrome...........what is mind blowing to me is that Scientology believes that it is a psychological issue.........where in the world did anyone get that idea?..........I have no idea what Jett Travolta suffered from but it appears to be some kind of mental retardation from the small amount of video that is available.........it could be something else besides Autism but to me what is so sad is that whatever his condition was it was not recognized by his parent's church so that he could not be treated.......if that is true (and that may not be true just hurtful rumors)  that is just to to sad...........Shokk

Pharmmom

I am in no way talking trash about the Travolta's!!!!  I am so angry that anyone would think this.  Perhaps when we write on a board the meaning does not come across well.  Paulette, there are some autistic kids that when you look at them they blend right in usually they have aspergers syndrome (another facet of autism).  I am not saying it is not possible.  It is on a spectrum.  Jett looked and behaved by watching him (not in a still photo but in a video) like he had some kind of neurological impairment.  Maybe it was not autism but I'm betting it was.  In any case I believe that Member of the club and I are on the same page.  Im not putting them down.  I feel so badly for them.  John Travolta looks like a wonderful father.  I believe he loved that child with his entire being as did his wife.  I am merely suggesting that in the video I saw the family seemed to be forming a circle around him to protect him from the paparazzi. Then they quickly ushered him into a van.  John looked very nervous that something was going to happen (possible child meltdown from to much visual stimulation, cameras lights etc).  The way the child reacted, the no affect, finger play, headphones that were not attached to an ipod or tape player but merely to muffle out sounds because some kids, mine included are super super sound sensitive), is something that I live with everyday.  I don't care if you live next to 50 autistic kids, living next to and living with are two entirely different situations. We also love and embrace our daughter but that does not mean that when we travel with her that we are not always "watching and waiting" to see what is going to happen with her.  We don't know what is going to set her off or cause a problem.  Its very stressful.  Please know that a person in my position IS THE LAST PERSON WHO WOULD JUDGE THEM.  I am just stating what I observed.  It is never an embarrassment or a put down to suggest that a child has autism.  MY OWN CHILD HAS IT.   That is all I am saying.  God bless them as they go through this horrible ordeal. 

Paulette531

Autism is a neurological disorder...I have been reading where Scientology stands on autism and found some interesting information, even an article on how Scientology deals (for lack of a better word) with helping children who are autistic. I haven't read anything from Scientology where mental health is concerned but there is some information on Beliefnet.com about Scientology and mental health albeit not much. In a way I can see where Tom Cruise came up with his "take" on mental illness because even Sigmund Freud said that the day will come when mental illness will be attributed to physiology. But just because Tom Cruise made the now infamous statement about mental health, that does not necessarily mean his religion believes the same thing. I am not defending Scientology but I would defend anyone's right to practice it just as I would defend anyone's right to practice whatever their belief.  In studying Psychology (I am getting a late life degree in Psych) and am by no means an expert but it seems as though so many problems that are considered "mental" are due to neurological malfunctions which is physiological and therefore physical. Anyway I digress! I believe autism falls under the same spectrums as do many neurological disorders meaning the messages being sent are not received and hamper the autistic person in functioning.

I don't know where the Travolta's stood on treatment for their son but I would like to believe they did the best they could with where they were in life and as I said before we (the general public) can only speculate based on rumors and the press and we all know the press is not always reliable.

Paulette531

Pharmmom...I hope you were not itimating I said you were trashing the Travolta's because I never said that. I guess for me, the whole Scientology won't let them treat their child "thing" bothers me because nowhere have I read that...and if their child had Kawasaki disease as they state he did I don't know why that can't be accepted...but anyway.

Also when I said my neighbor's child is autistic, I was not intimating that I know anything about living with an autistic child, I was merely pointing out I have a little experience with autistic children, granted not much other than observing the little girl and talking with her parents and a little interaction with her when she is outdoors. I also on occasion hear her from inside their home when she is acting out (I don't know the term used). And to be honest with you from what her parents have told me I don't know how they manage 24/7.

marshakb

John and Kelly have a home here in Ocala where I Iive.  They are very much a part of the community, raising funds for various local charities.  Folks here in Ocala leave them pretty much alone.  Dave Schlenker, our local entertainment editor for the paper was on Fox news this morning.  I do alot of theatre here and have been interviewed many times by him.  Ocala is in mourning for the Travolta family.  I remember when HOGS the movie opened, they did the screening here and John and Kelly came riding out on their motorcycle.  They love Denny's restaurant, shopping at the Gap (they close the store and hustle them in the service entrance at the mall.  Neighbors at the airstrip community where they live have commented on Jett being "not quite right" and said he rarely spoke.  Very very sad.  I have a friend whose child is autistic and needs MUCH special care.  Scientologist don't believe in "autism" from what I understand.

Member_of_the_Club

Paulette, you are right that most of what we consider to be mental illness has a physiological source and can often be treated with medication.  But Scientologists do not believe that.  They do not believe in any medical interventions for mental illness, and a lot of suffering results from this.  Of course, the Travoltas can practice whatever religion they want but I think it is also true that some religious practices that cause harm can be condemned.

Autism is a developmental disorder resulting from faulty brain development, most likely in utero.  It also has a physiological basis, but that is not what Scientologists believe.  They believe people with autism are "degraded."  Anyone who calls my son degraded is not going to get a lot of support from me. 

Anonymous

Shokk, back in the late '70's, only the most severe cases of autism were recognized, and virtually all of them had a component of mental retardation.  Now that milder forms such as Asperger's Syndrome, which often affects people with higher than normal IQ scores, are being recognized as being part of the autism spectrum, the mental retardation is less prominent as an indicator of autism.  It is more the dis-association from the world that brings a diagnosis on the autism spectrum today.

Today, Autism has become the "fashionable" default diagnosis for every child whose behavior is an issue just as ADHD was the default diagnosis a decade or so ago.  The big difference is that there is a pill to treat ADHD, while there is no universally accepted treatment for autism, just hard work on the part of all the adults associated with the child to open communication, modify behavior and help them re-connect with the world.  Some children have been helped by changes in diet, but not all.  Since there is no definitive test for autism, who is to say that those children didn't have an allergy to specific foods that presented with similar symptoms, and were "cured" once the offending food was removed from their diet?

shokk

Pat'smommie I could not agree with you more but you did say something that made me smile........The medical Doctor that was in charge of the home for Autistic kids where I studied was sure it had something to do with their diet.......the kids would live at the school Monday through Friday then would go home on Friday nights and return on Sunday afternoons.......the kids would come back almost uncontrollable.......he would complain that the parents refused to follow his strict diet on the weekends and feed them crap like McDonalds...........I always thought it had more to do with change........one thing about Autistic kids is their routine is most important........any change to their daily activities could send them into chaos...........and let's face most of us that do well in life are the ones who handle change the best because nothing stays the same..........there is always bumps in the road say like cancer......ughhhhhhh.........

(((Marsha))) how wonderful to see a post from you..........you know I think it is great that your community would treat the Travoltas just like normal folks.......that is probably why they live there instead of Hollywood...........they just seem so down to Earth..........I remember John telling a story about how his Dad would come home everyday at 3 to greet his 5 or 6 kids when they got home from school.......his mom and Dad would both be there......(I think they owned a Deli).......he said as he got older he realized how important that was to him..........you just know how much he and Kelly both love their children.......it's just so sad.........Shokk