1/05/09 1/02/09

John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Son, Jett, Dies From a Seizure

John Travolta and Kelly Preston's Son Passes Away

January 2, 2009 by Celebrity

TMZ was the first to report that John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son, Jett, passed away in the Bahamas today. Their attorney confirmed the news that the 16-year-old had a seizure at the family's vacation home. Our hearts and thoughts go out to John and Kelly's family and friends during this tragic and difficult time.

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wazzu 8 years

The amount of hate for such a beloved person has astounded me. To attack after having suffered such a loss is cruel and heartless. From a mother that has buried her son, I wish the Travolta family only comfort in the warm and beautiful memories that was your child. You can only believe he is gone, because he finnish his responsibility on earth and has been welcomed home. If the readers buy into the garbage the unethical media has presented, you are just as much to blame. You were not there, you do not know what they did or didn't do or why. Where is you compassion. I am not impressed because some took the opportunity to attack a family in crisis! Any family!

Pepper 8 years

This breaks my heart. No parent should have to outlive their child.

pinkprincess1101 8 years

yahoo NASSAU (Reuters) - Actor John Travolta broke a two-day silence over the death of his 16-year-old son Jett on Sunday, saying he and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, were "heartbroken" by their sudden loss. Jett, who had a history of seizures, was found unconscious in a bathroom at his family's home at the Old Bahama Bay resort on Grand Bahama Island on Friday morning. He was pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport and an autopsy to determine the cause of death is due to be performed in the Bahamas on Monday. "Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered," Travolta said in a statement posted on his website www.travolta.com. "We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time that we had with him for the rest of our lives." The statement did not refer to Jett's medical history or possible cause of death. But Travolta's lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott, were quoted on Sunday as saying Jett apparently suffered from grand mal, a type of epilepsy marked by convulsions and loss of consciousness. He was on an anti-seizure medication called Depakote for several years, Ossi and McDermott told the celebrity website TMZ. They said the drug was suspended after it lost its effectiveness amid concern about side effects, however, and Jett had been suffering about one extremely serious seizure a week. Travolta and his wife have said previously that Jett became very sick when he was a toddler and was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, which leads to inflammation of the blood vessels in young children. Ossi and McDermott did not immediately return calls from Reuters on Sunday seeking comment. Travolta's publicists have declined to comment on autopsy or funeral plans for the actor's teenage son.

Jessamyn 8 years

I am so sorry. My condolences.

hills 8 years

gosh, bless them thats terrible.

Shannolyn 8 years

The boy had nannies because he required full time care, minding and supervision---which is one reason why so many have always suspected that he had some form of autism. I have a twelve year old cousin with autism who can communicate fairly well, but still has to be "shadowed" and supervised like you would with a much younger child just to insure his safety or that he doesn't wander off, etc. This is all so sad.

crazyana 8 years

he was 16 years old and he had NANNIES?!

armybrat 8 years

RIP little one and God bless this family on their agonizing time.

Kelliegrl 8 years

A family is suffering and it amazes me that there are people on this board that want to tear this family down. If you don't have anything good to say, why not be quiet. When anyone loses a child it's always sad.

girl21innyc 8 years

pinkprincess1101 8 years

TMZ has learned what may have killed Jett Travolta, and it's not what police have suggested. We've spoken with John Travolta's lawyer and close friend, Michael McDermott, and family attorney Michael Ossi, both of whom are with John in the Bahamas. They tell TMZ it appears Jett's fatal injury was the result of hitting his head on the bathtub, toilet seat, or both. And they say the intimation that Jett went undiscovered for hours is absolutely false. Police have said the last time anyone saw Jett was when he went to the bathroom on January 1. His body was discovered by nanny Jeff Kathrein the next day at 10 AM. In fact, McDermott and Ossi say it appears Jett went back and forth to his room and the fatal injury occurred "very shortly" before Jett was found on the bathroom floor -- McDermott called it a "small window of time." McDermott and Ossi tell us two nannies were present on the trip and Jeff was by his side 24/7. There was a baby monitor device by Jett's side and there was also a chimer in the bathroom when the door opened. McDermott and Ossi say it is still unclear if Jett fell to the floor as a result of a seizure or if he had a seizure after falling or slipping. There was blood on the floor of the bathroom, but "not a tremendous amount." It appears the striking of Jett's head was the cause of death, though it won't be clear until the autopsy is performed Monday morning. Jett's body will be embalmed Monday afternoon. There will be a local showing on Tuesday and later that day the body will be flown to Ocala, Fla. for burial. McDermott says both John and Kelly are night owls. John often goes to sleep at around 5 AM. But McDermott says both nannies were at the hotel and Jeff always present. McDermott tells us a hotel manager was first on scene with Jeff and the two of them administered CPR. John came in shortly thereafter and John took over for a "substantial period of time [and] was performing CPR and continued that until EMT came and took over." McDermott says as for Travolta and Preston, the pain is "unimaginable and unquantifiable." UPDATE: The Grand Bahamas health minister confirms that the autopsy will be conducted by two pathologists to ensure a proper evaluation has been made. A clinical and forensic pathologist from Nassau, that is U.S. certified, will fly into Grand Bahama on Monday to help perform the autopsy.

Ginger 8 years

TMZ has more details today and it looks like his fall may have been shortly before he was found. They also had a series of ways to keep tabs on Jett: "two nannies were present on the trip and Jeff (his nanny) was by his side 24/7. There was a baby monitor device by Jett's side and there was also a chimer in the bathroom when the door opened. McDermott and Ossi say it is still unclear if Jett fell to the floor as a result of a seizure or if he had a seizure after falling or slipping. There was blood on the floor of the bathroom, but "not a tremendous amount." It appears the striking of Jett's head was the cause of death, though it won't be clear until the autopsy is performed Monday morning."

pinkprincess1101 8 years

i don't think anyone is accusing them perse, more of speculation because no one knows the truth, i know that Scientologists, don't believe in medication and treatment, so if the Travolta's were hardcore Scientologists, then it would be fair to think that there might have been lack of treatment. what is really stupid is that Scientology was founded by a science fiction writer who said that he can create a religion and have people follow,

TheEnchantedOne 8 years

This is very sad news.. my heart goes out to the family. May God comfort them in this difficult time.

martiandoll 8 years

How tragic for the Travoltas, my sympathies to the whole family. Jett wasn't really in the limelight, but from the pictures that I've seen of him with his parents, he looked like a happy child and John and Kelly seemed so loving. I don't think they neglected their son at all. Why are many people so quick to jump to the conclusion that Scientology was behind Jett's death? Even if a caregiver was there to supervise him, there is still possibility that Jett could've suffered a seizure, hit his head, and the caregiver was not fast enough to break his fall. Accidents happen, some children even get hurt with their parents WATCHING over them. The seizure could have affected Jett anywhere. He could've had a seizure in front of the family and hit his head on a table. It would've been as fatal as hitting your head on the bath tub. Who knows, maybe Jett was on anti-convulsive meds, seeing the best neurologist in the country, and still had a seizure while in the bathroom. I just think it is not right for us to accuse John and Kelly of neglect of their child when we don't know the details.

Shannolyn 8 years

Such an awful tragedy--very, very sad to hear this. I fear the anti-seizure medications out there are the very kinds of drugs that those in Scientology do not believe in. They call psychiatry a pseudo-science, but don't seem to want to acknowledge that psychiatrists are medical doctors, academically and clinically trained, with a medical degree and medical license to practice just like any internist or cardiologist. Personally? I'd listen to the doctors. I always felt a twinge of heartache any time I saw a photo of this boy. This is really heartbreaking news.

SandyFeet 8 years

How very tragic to bury your child. Jett suffered enough in his short life. May he rest in peace now

jolie4u 8 years

ohhh my sympathy goes out to the family. Unfortunately death is a part of life, grieving is the next process. I wish all the wellness for john and kelly/family.

Papaver 8 years

So if you don't believe in surgery and your child was in the accident letting him/her die is OK? People can do whatever they want to themselves but when they are hurting/not helping others it's another thing and it's not OK.

babiidollxxx 8 years

That's sad, and my heart goes out to the whole family. No matter how they chose to treat their child, they went with their beliefs. Just because we don't understand it, doesn't mean they didn't care for their child. It's tragic to lose a child, no matter your beliefs.

KindersurpriseKa 8 years

My condolences..that's just so sad.

Bebeshopper 8 years

As the mother of a 15 year old son, my heart and prayers are with the Travolta family today. I can't imagine the pain and heartbreak of losing your son.

krae85 8 years

just sad.

nguidjol 8 years

Really missjinx? What truth are they talking about? Last time i check they don't the Travoltas, they don't live with them, so how can they possibly know the truth. All they are doing is speculating. Just because you read something or heard it, doesn't necessarily make it true How do you that this kid didn't get all the help he needed. Once again speculation!