By JEREMY OLSHAN

John Travolta’s 16-year-old son died today while the family was vacationing in the Bahamas, authorities said.

The circumstances of the boy’s death are unclear, although sources told the Post that his body was found unconscious in a bathtub at the Old Bahama Bay Resort Hotel in Grand Bahama.

Jett was pronounced dead on arrival at Rand Memorial Hospital, officials said.

According to Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, Jett had long suffered from Kawasaki disease – a rare condition said to be caused by chemical contaminants — but many had criticized the couple for refusing to acknowledge that the boy was autistic because of his belief in Scientology.

In 2007, one of Travolta’s Florida neighbors, whose son is autistic, said he was shocked that the movie star could let his belief stand in the way of helping the boy.

“They see it as a weakness. That’s what the space aliens are telling him I guess,” Tim Kenny told Hollywoodinterrupted.com after approaching Travolta as “one autistic father to another.”

“Scientology is keeping him from acknowledging his son’s autism. They see it as a weakness,” he said.

In Scientology mental illness is viewed as a weakness, that can be treated through hard work rather than through medicine.

Source:   http://www.nypost.com/seven/01022009/news/nationalnews/john_travoltas_son_found_dead_146914.htm

John Travolta’s Son Dies In Bahamas

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

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

The teen apparently hit his head and a caretaker found him unconscious in the bathroom on Friday morning. He was taken by ambulance to Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport, where he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Department.

Jett, who had a history of seizures, was the eldest child of Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston. They also have an 8-year-old daughter, Ella.

An autopsy was pending, police said.

The family, who have homes in California and Florida, arrived in the Bahamas on Tuesday by private plane, police said.

(Reporting by John Marquis; editing by Jane Sutton)

Source:   http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE50145920090102

‘My agony at losing my beloved boy’: ‘Heartbroken’ John Travolta breaks silence over death of teenage son

By Paul Thompson
Last updated at 6:58 PM on 04th January 2009

John Travolta has spoken for the first time of his desperate struggle to save his son’s life.

In a statement on his website, John Travolta said he and his wife Kelly Preston were ‘heartbroken’ by their sudden loss.

‘Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered,’ the star said in a statement posted on www.travolta.com.

John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s teenage son Jett, 16, died in the Bahamas

‘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 it offered thanks from the Hollywood star, his wife and their eight-year-old-daughter, Ella, for ‘many messages of condolence from around the world.’

As many of his Hollywood friends called to offer their support, the actor described the frantic efforts to revive his 16 year-old son Jett.

The Grease star sat down with family lawyer Michael McDermott to talk about  the tragedy and make funeral arrangements.

‘I did everything I could to keep Jett alive,’ Travolta told McDermott.

John Travolta’s house in the Bahamas where Jett died

‘There was a slight pulse so we did all we could. I tried the kiss of life for about 20 minutes.I wouldn’t give up.

‘The paramedics took over from me when they arrived, and they continued. Jeff (nanny Jeff Kathrein) gave Jett CPR while I tried to resuscitate him.’

Despite Travolta’s frantic efforts, his son, who had a history of seizures, was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital in Freeport, Bahamas.

Two pathologists will on Monday carry out a post mortem to determine the exact  cause of death.

‘I’ve got to be strong for Kelly and Ella,’ Travolta told McDermott, referring to his actress wife Kelly Preston and eight year-old  daughter Ella.

‘We have to  try and pick ourselves up and continue with our lives.’

Jett is rumoured to have suffered autism

The actor is expected to issue a formal statement later Monday.

McDermott said Travolta, 54, and wife Kelly, 46, have been comforted by the messages of sympathy from his friends, family and  fans.

Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey was due to arrive in the Bahamas on Sunday to comfort the couple. McDermott said other A-list stars were also planning to fly to the Bahamas to comfort Travolta.

Tom Cruise, a close friend and fellow Scientologist, has spoken at length to Travolta.

Will Smith has also called the resort in the Bahamas where Travolta and his family had travelled to see in the New Year.

Oprah Winfrey, pictured during her 50th birthday celebrations, is flying to see Travolta (centre)

Actress Kirstie Alley, who starred with Travolta in “Look Who’s Talking” is flying to the Travolta family home in Ocala, Florida, to wait for  his return.

‘John has had dozens of calls from all the people he has  worked with in  Hollywood,’ said McDermott.

‘He and Kelly are very grateful for all the messages of support. It has been a  great source of strength to them as they try to cope with  what has happened.

‘They really have appreciated all the messages, and they know  lots of people are hurting. This has been the worst time of their lives, but  they know life continues and they will pull themselves together.’

McDermott, speaking with the authorisation of Travolta, also released new details about the events leading up to Jett’s death.

Kirsty Alley, pictured with Travolta and Kelly Preston, is flying to the family home in Florida to await the actor’s return

The teenager had been with his family on a boat trip and returned to his room with his nanny Jeff Kathrein.

‘Jett was tired and wanted to go to bed early,’ said  McDermott. ‘It was about  6pm when he got back to his room which is on the ground  floor of the house  where John was staying.

‘He was accompanied by his nanny who stayed watching TV while Jett was in his  room.’

Travolta and Preston in happier times, pictured at an Oscar party last year

McDermott said Jett’s other nanny, a man called Eli, later returned to the  room and slept in an adjacent room. He was just a few feet  away.

Jett’s room was fitted with a baby monitor and chimes on the  bathroom door.

The family have said Jett, who suffered from a condition known as Kawasaki disease, had a history of seizures.

One theory is that Jett suffered a seizure while using the bathroom. Another  is that he slipped and banged his head and then suffered a  fatal seizure.

‘There have been reports that Jett was alone for hours and  they are just wrong and distressing for the family,’ said  McDermott.

‘As soon as Jett was discovered Jeff tried to revive him. The duty manager of  the hotel was alerted and ran 150 yards to help. She knew about  CPR and said  there were signs of a pulse.

‘John and Kelly were asleep in the room, but the other nanny  fetched them. John took over trying to resuscitate his son.

‘The ambulance took about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the  hotel, and all that  time John said he never once gave up trying to save his  son.’

After returning from Rand Memorial Hospital where his son had  been taken he  broke the news of Jett’s death to their eight year old daughter  Ella.

‘Kelly is still very quiet and withdrawn, but she is coping,’  said McDermott.  ‘You only have to look at them both to see the pain, it is etched into their  faces. They have not had a lot of sleep.

‘It is hard to know what to say to a couple who have just lost  their son.’

Jett’s funeral is expected to take place later this week in Ocala where Travolta has a home built around its own runway.

An avid pilot, who named one of his planes after his children, he can park two jets just yards from his home in the Jumbolair  estate.

Source:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1105129/My-agony-losing-beloved-boy-Heartbroken-John-Travolta-breaks-silence-death-teenage-son.html?ITO=1490

Condolences for Travolta Family – John Travolta, Kelly Preston & Sister Ella

No parent such as John Travolta and Kelly Preston should have to outlive their child, Jett. Even more tragic is for their son, Jett Travolta to die so young. There is a bit of confusion around the web searching for information as people wishing to extend their condolences to the Travolta Family have been keying Jeff Travolta rather than Jett Travolta. Our hearts go out to John Travolta, Kelly Preston & Sister Ella at this time as we extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences.

Image Source: Reuters Pictures on Daylife.com

Jett Travolta Remembered

Photos for Jett Travolta From Daylife.com

What is Kawasaki Syndrome? Jett Travolta

Kawasaki disease, also known as lymph node syndrome, mucocutaneous node disease, infantile polyarteritis and Kawasaki syndrome, is a poorly understood self-limited vasculitis that affects many organs, including the skin and mucous membranes, lymph nodes, blood vessel walls, and the heart. It was first described in 1967 by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki in Japan.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Jett Travolta, Kawasaki Disease: Separating Fact From Fiction

The recent tragic death of Jett Travolta has raised awareness of Kawasaki Disease, a disease with which he was diagnosed in early childhood. Kawasaki disease is a rare form of vasculitis which usually strikes children under the age of …

Jett Travolta and Kawasaki Syndrome – On Parenting (usnews.com)

Knowing signs of the mysterious ailment can reduce heart risk.

Kawasaki Disease: No Link to Travolta Death

Jett Travolta’s childhood brush with Kawasaki disease is highly unlikely to have caused the seizures that apparently led to his death, a Kawasaki expert tells WebMD.

Kawasaki Syndrome Jett Travolta

Jett Travolta, John Travolta’s son, reportedly suffered from Kawasaki Syndrome. But what is Kawasaki Syndrome? The disease of Kawasaki Syndrome is given a complete write …

Source:   http://www.squidoo.com/jett-travolta

Jett Travolta died of ‘seizure’: Bahamas officials

Jan 6 12:19 AM US/Eastern

Officials in the Bahamas who conducted an autopsy on Jett Travolta said the 16-year-old son of actor John Travolta died here last week of a “seizure,” and that his body showed no signs of head trauma.

…Jett Travolta had a history of seizures since he was a toddler, and a lawyer for his father said he may have suffered a lethal one on Friday.

Citing the assistant director of a funeral home that carried out the autopsy, TMZ.com said Jett Travolta’s death certificate listed “seizure” as the cause of death.

To Continue Reading …

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=090106041843.wk8v3bcc&show_article=1