John Travolta
As if suffering the loss of their child isn't enough, now John Travolta and Kelly Preston must suffer the speculation that revolves around young Jett's death. As many now know, Jett Travolta died early this morning in the Bahamas while on vacation with his family. It's been reported that the sixteen-year-old hit his head on the bathtub after having a seizure. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and Jett was pronounced dead at Rand Memorial Hospital. Jett had a history of seizures.
This sad event has brought back into the spotlight old rumors of Jett's health. As a toddler, Jett was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease, an illness that can cause inflammation of the arteries, including coronary arteries. Travolta and Preston blamed Jett's condition on chemical cleaning agents, which some scientists have linked to the disease. In comes the controversy: Jett went through a detoxification program that is based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, the so-called father of Scientology. Some people have said that Travolta and Preston were in denial of their son's true condition: autism.
In past interviews, Travolta has stated that he has a disabled son but never specified the disability. It was soon rumored that Travolta and Preston refused to acknowledge that Jett may have autism because the Church of Scientology, the couple's religion, states that people with mental illnesses are 'degraded beings' and can cure themselves by working harder on the church's teachings. In addition, Scientology does not support or condone the various therapies and treatment for autism.
So did Jett have autism? Did he have Kawasaki Disease? Who knows. The fact is, John and Kelly lost a son. Their daughter lost a big brother. Their pain is unimaginable. What they did or did not do and what they believe or don't believe doesn't matter now. My heart goes out to them and I hope that they are able to grieve privately and remember the child they love.
Comments
To the editor of this article, thank you! I am a mother of a 10 yr old autistic son and even I feel that people need to allow these parents and their daughter mourn in peace. It's really nobody's businness if he ever had autism & if he did that was his parents choice to deal w/ it to the public as they wished to! What matters now is that these ppl r goin thru the greatest pain imaginable!
Deepest Sympathies to the family; we are so sorry for the loss of their son Jett.
my heart goes out to the Travolta family and you are all in my thoughts
and prayers
Scientology forbids the use of anti-seizure medications. I feel tremendous sympathy for the Travoltas. But don't minimize Scientology's role in this child's death.
I have worked with children with numerous physical, behavorial and intellectual disabilities. I absolutely ache for this family and pray they are given the privacy, space and time to morn. The diagnosis or religion should not be the focus. Jett leaves behind two grieving parents and a little sister that adored him. Those of us that are immersed with in the special ed. community are with you in our thoughts and are happy that while Jett was here he was loved by many who had his best interest at heart. (Samantha)
so sorry for their loss--it's unimaginal
however Ron Hubbard is a quack as their religion is I can't help but wonder if their denial led to this
When is this country going to wake-up and do something about the cult Scientology? I feel terrible for the Travoltas, but their involvement in this cult obviously contributed to their sons death. That is unconscionable. If these were normal people whose child died as the result of a seisure for whice he was not receiving proper treatment--they would be in jail right now and thier daughter in the care of the state. Good thing Scientology targets the wealthy and famous.
Dear Kelly & John
Our Heart goes out to you and your daughter at this difficult time. May you find peace in the memories of Jett. Our Prayers are with you
Sharon & Matt
The Travolta family have suffered an unbelievable loss and to question any of their actions or comments at this time or any other would be nothing short of cruel. Jett was obviously cared for and loved by his parents and sibling and that is what counts. leave them to grieve in peace. It is about time that the world realises we do not all march to the same drum.
This is such an unimaginable loss and my heart goes out to the Travolta family. It is sad that they didn't get him treatment for Autism because of the beliefs of the Church of Scientology. My son is severely Autistic and we got him treatment from the time he was two and a half. Scientology doesn't believe in the therapies or medications for autism. Medication for Jett's seizures would have prevented this death. Seizures are most common in Autistic teenaged boys. This is so sad. I wish they had gotten him the treatment he needed.
I'm sorry for their loss but if my religion was telling me not to do something that would improve my child's quality of life I'd find a new religion quickly. The fact that people can't think for themselves irritates me no end. If you weighed the pros and cons and then decided to deny the condition or treatment that would be one thing but to ignore the options and gloss over the issue because some book written by a crack pot and open to interpretation has been adopted by a bunch of elitist wing nuts you want to be associated with and deemed religion is not an excuse.
To John, Kelly, and Ella, my deepest sympathies on your unfathomable loss. As long as Jett is in your hearts, he will never truly die. May Jett rest in peace, and may you find comfort and solace in one another and your extended family.
I realize that since he is the son of two actors, Jett Travolta and his death will be the subject of much media scrutiny. But what does it matter if Jett was autistic, had Kawasaki disease, both, or neither? He was first and foremost a beloved son and brother, and I'm sure that John, Kelly, and Ella loved him deeply. No parent should ever have to bury a child. My own great-grandmother never recovered from burying my grandfather, her firstborn son, who died of prostate cancer at the age of 50. She was 75 when Granddad died and didn't last much longer after losing her son. John, Kelly, and Ella mourn their son and brother, not Jett who had Kawasaki disease (or not), or Jett who was autistic (or not). My thoughts and prayers are with the Travoltas during this overwhelmingly difficult time.
The statements about Scientology in this article are false and slanderous. Why pile onto the grief of the parents with lies and rumors? It's plain cruel. Such a tragedy to lose a beloved child so obviously adored by his parents. Why do you want to cause them more pain? Give them prayers and sympathy.
I feel for the Travolta Family.
I blame Scientology.
It's the worst thing imaginable for a parent, the death of a child. I remember years ago when I was a kid, there was a girl in my hometown who was in a wheelchair -- and would remain so for the rest of her life. She had polio, and was severely crippled. The reason? The mother and father were Christian Scientists, and did not believe in immunizations. To this day, I am amazed at parents who put their children in harm's way, all wrapped up in something called religion. It's very sad, and I'm glad the only sacrifice I had to make was not eating meat on Fridays. It will be interesting to see what L. Ron Hubbard and his cult followers have to say about this tragedy.
I'm sorry, but I think you would not forgive them so easily if the parents were just normal people. For me, first they are parents, their names are not important. In Germany and Austria, if you refuse to give your child an essential therapy because of your religious beliefs, the youth welfare office will take your child away from you. Examples are the Jehovah's Witnesses or the parents of Olivia Pilhar. Read about her. Will the Travoltas ever find an excuse for themselves? Do they think they are not responsible?
@Tina
Why you feel for the Travoltas but blame Scientology? Nobody forced them to believe this stuff. Do you think they are brainless dolls?
Kawasaki disease does not cause seizures later in life - its a disease of infancy.
The kid clearly had some problems that cannot be explained by Kawasaki disease and yet that is what the parents tried to do - it is so obvious that the kid had untreated autism. The parents should be arrested
i ride a kawasaki, does this mean i will fall and hit my head??? and if so will it kill me????
i ride a kawasaki, does this mean i will fall and hit my head??? and if so will it kill me????
For more on JET TRAVOLTA's Tragic Death check out soyawannaknow.blogspot.com
How do they know he had a seizure?
Why was he left alone for so long?
KAWASAKI FOR SALE.. gonna sell my kawasaki 650 motorcycle so i dont get any disease that will make me fall down. NO OFFER REFUSED.. runs good!
The last paragraph of this article says it all. None of us should put ourselves in the position of judge/jury in someone else's private life.
My sympathy to the Travolta-Preston families. May Jett's memory be eternal.
Let all the rumors DIE - write a nice happy parenting story please and move past this tragity!
The last paragraph of this article says it all. None of us should put ourselves in the position of judge/jury in someone else's private life.
My sympathy to the Travolta-Preston families. May Jett's memory be eternal.
I don't understand how someone can say what does it matter now what he had? Well if had a seizure disorder and the parents didn't have him on medication because of their strange (and Scientology is very strange)religious beliefs , then he could be alive today. Yes it very much does matter.
my heart goes out to them. I am a parent. It saddens me that their religion requires them to keep this precious childs illness a secret. God bless Jenny McCarthy.
It may be a fact that Jett's condition was never fully explained. Sometimes something tiny can go wrong in the brain and multiply seizures can cause minimal brain damage. Autism is not a "mental illness"...in the end it is none of our business what the child had or did not have. It is not even relevent.
The fact is parents have lost a child and a child has lost a sibling and their grief must be enormous.
What they did or did not do does matter. If Jett was autistic, the seizures were probably related to his autism. If the Travoltas did not treat his autism then that is child abuse. But they will get away with it because they are rich and famous.
Cindy
Proud Mother of an Autistic Child
It is not child abuse if parents don't treat autism. Jett was fed, clothed, given shelter, and loved. How is that abuse? Maybe he did receive treatment, like ABA therapy. Who really knows? I have seen just as many children with autism be overworked by parents and therapists to the point that it could be called child abuse, too. Maybe the Travoltas weren't over-programming their child and letting him BE a child/teen.
@MackAttack:
If a medication can prevent seizures and parents decline this treatment for their child because of their so called "religious beliefs", it's bodily harm with fatal consequences caused by negligence. In my country the youth welfare office will take the child away from you.
Maybe some of you should read the Kerri Wachter page about Scientology - it is shocking.
To Cindy: All my wishes to you!
I have read in previous articles regarding Scientology, that they prefer death to disability? The Travolta family said that Jett had disabilities, does that since they are scientology followers that they would rather he die than be labeled as disabled?
L siento mucho por ellos pero por desgracia no tiene al unico que podra darle la paz y la tranquilidad en este momento Jesucristo. Dios creo el cielo y la tierra y todo lo que hay en ella solo espera por nosotros vayamos a el. La ciencia no esta sobre el poder de Dios y jamas lo estara. El Señor tenga misericordia de nosotros. Amén.
You hit the nail on the head: Who cares? Whatever Jett had or didn't have, his parents and sister need the chance to grieve his loss. My heart goes out to them.
John and Kelly obviously deeply and profoundly loved their son, but their care was misguided and it led to him not being properly treated.
It was tragic that the Travolta's denial caused them to refuse proper treatment for Jett. He could have been verbal and much higher-functioning had he been given intensive therapy that they could afford.
Kawaski Syndrome is a childhood illness that is in no way shape or form related to develpomental delays or seizures.
May the grace and mercy of our Lord be upon the family.
At this point I don't see where it mstters whether or not if Jett had autism. Whatever mistakes his parents made or didn't make, they have to live with. Let him rest in peace.
Oh please, of course it matters. They are horrible parents. The fact that he died from hitting his head due to a seizure, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, is no one's fault but their own. I hope their religion was worth it. How could anyone religion say a child with a mental illness is a degraded being.....DISCUSTING! and so are John and Kelly for allowing this b.s.
it matters! really really matters. i have a son 6 with autism. classic autism. and if i was in denial, and didnt recognize it in my community, i could be considered unfit, or be accused of child neglect. i am burning mad. burning mad. what kind of schooling did this child have? if so, what do they think of his parents claiming otherwise? i think they should be held accountable in that they neglected their sons medical condition.
Sorry i'am sixteen too.
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