John Tavolta's son Jett dies at age 16

[Linda7NJ]

This is a tragic situation. I am curious if though...if John and Kelly knowingly did not allow medical treatment for Jett's obvious Autism, because of the Scientology beliefs, could they be charged for neglect or something?

I don't think so. Autism doesn't seem to really have a standard treatment.

Refusing seizure medications ....that may be another story. I think it's something like one in 5 children with autism suffer from seizures.

 

[OneLostGrl]

Isn't it true that his parents refused to put him on anti-seizure medications?

It is "the way" of Scientology, yes. Though I do not know if John follows every "rule".

 

[OneLostGrl]

you would have to ask them and their doctor, that. I have seen reports of that nature, but with anything in the media, you have to talk it with a grain of salt.

ita. .

 

[OneLostGrl]

because says so. end of story.
THis story is just painful for me to hear. My son had a seizure behind the wheel last night he is still in the hospital but boy do I feel lucky
I am sitting here with him in his hospital room and my heart breaks for the Travoltas as they are living my nightmare.

OMG! Thank goodness he is OK, JBean! :blowkiss:

 

[cheko1]

Thanks for the kind posts. I just feel so bad when I hear stories like this.Sometimes it doesn't matter what precautions you take or what care you give them, sometimes it is luck of the draw.
My son is a good example. i did not medicate him for his epilepsy for many years and he stayed seizure free. Now that he is medicated he has break through seizures and meds are an ongoing game of trial and error. He has been seizure free for 2 years now on his current meds! This latest episode that landed him in the hospital revealed that my son also has undiagnosed and unchecked type 1 diabetes. This stress on his body sent him into a one of his seizures. So even though he is well cared for and should remain seizure free, his body has other ideas at the moment. He typically has his seizures in the shower and by the Grace of God has never hit his head. Now he has had one while driving and again he escaped with relatively minor injuries. His guardian Angel is working over time and for that I am so grateful.
This poor family, and God Bless Jett.

ETA: Hopefully he will get out of the hospital today..cuz we have tickets to the Charger-Colts game. We have our priorities straight

My heart goes out to the Travolta family! He was so very young!!!

Jelly Bean.... :blowkiss: to you & thank God your son is ok. Hope you all have fun at the football game & your team wins.

 

[sillygoose]

It's always so sad when a parent loses a child. I can't imagine their pain. This is such a personal, private time for the family. I hate to see anything other than condolences going out for them right now. My prayers are with them.

 

[Texana]

Jbean ((())) my heart goes out to you.

As for Jett being autistic, his parents would certainly not be the first or the last to recognize or accept that. Love and denial can overcome many obvious signs.

There is no "treatment" for an child with autism, only intervention therapies. Some might require medication for ADD/ADHD, which is common for autistic children, but there is no medication or prescribed treatment. Autism is a spectrum disorder meaning that symptoms will vary in intensity. You might have one child who could tolerate a regular classroom for most of the day, and another who could handle only 20 minutes with a break in between--and yet, both are diagnosed autistic.

You could argue that Jett, if autistic, would have benefited from more intense therapies, a very good school, etc, etc, but you could also argue that his needs would be met for life. I would always argue for a child getting the most help and achieving as much as possible, but I also have to admit that I'm not the parent of that child. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to deal with an autistic child,and the Travoltas would certainly not be the first parents to simply give up on not fighting those battles.

And with all fairness, I have found that anything brain related is unique to the individual and not nearly as certain as other medications. It is frustrating how little we still seem to know about medications and the brain. It's possible that
medication might not have any difference in this case.

I think that they could have perhaps done better, but I can't fault them for not doing so.

 

[Gozgals]

Thanks for the kind posts. I just feel so bad when I hear stories like this.Sometimes it doesn't matter what precautions you take or what care you give them, sometimes it is luck of the draw.
My son is a good example. i did not medicate him for his epilepsy for many years and he stayed seizure free. Now that he is medicated he has break through seizures and meds are an ongoing game of trial and error. He has been seizure free for 2 years now on his current meds! This latest episode that landed him in the hospital revealed that my son also has undiagnosed and unchecked type 1 diabetes. This stress on his body sent him into a one of his seizures. So even though he is well cared for and should remain seizure free, his body has other ideas at the moment. He typically has his seizures in the shower and by the Grace of God has never hit his head. Now he has had one while driving and again he escaped with relatively minor injuries. His guardian Angel is working over time and for that I am so grateful.
This poor family, and God Bless Jett.

ETA: Hopefully he will get out of the hospital today..cuz we have tickets to the Charger-Colts game. We have our priorities straight

God Bless you and your son JBean. I have the same two conditions as your son so I know how difficult it is for you. I wish him a speedy recovery.

God Bless Jett and his family. This is so sad and shocking.
Their pain must be unbearable. I can't even imagine what they are going through.


Always
Gozgals

 

[FifthEssence]

Can't begin to imagine how HEAVY their hearts are at this time. So so sad.

JBean, prayers for your Son. Hope he was released on time for that thrilling overtime game.

 

[twinkiesmom]

I hate carpet, BTW. I have it because hubby loves it, but I have cleaned and vacuumed carpet too many times not to know it's FILTHY. Whoever invented it didn't do us humans any favors. One day we'll know this and maybe it will be banned....

Carpet didn't kill this kid...you would save more people banning French Fries.
Nor should we ban Prozac or Neurontin or Ritalin as these drugs save and improve many more lives than they take. Yes, these drugs don't work perfectly in every person...neither does penicillin, but would you rather live in a world without penicillin because it isn't 100% effective and a few people are allergic to it?

Kelly:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n196/scienowriter/Kelly_march.jpg

It scares me that celebrities are out there educating the public that biochemical diseases of the brain do not exist and should not be treated according to standard medical practice.

This was a terrible tragedy, but I do not believe that parents have a right to privacy when there is a dead child involved.

 

[Marthatex]

MSNBC describes the person as a house caretaker:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28472480/

A house caretaker found the teenager unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning.


Either way it's sooooo sad. My prayers go out to the family. I've read comments online from people that live near them or know them. Seems they are all well liked, down to earth people.

From what I've heard, John T. is a nice guy. My daughter met him once when he was in town making a movie and he carried on a conversation with her and her soccer friends just like a "regular" guy; no airs at all.

He already went through a terrible time losing his first love. (Diana Rigg?) Losing a child is something no one should have to suffer. I don't agree with some of their notions on medications, but that is their business. You can't watch a 16-year-old every minute, but I do wish they had kept closer communication with him if he was prone to seizures.

Very sad, and a shock to lose a child like that. He was still a child.

 

[ROBLYN]

JBean hope your son is doing well. Really O/T any puppy names yet?

IMO by all accounts Jett was well cared for and loved. It sounds as if he led a full and active life, enjoying swimming, riding his bike, climbing trees, playing outside etc...as well as round the clock care. This does not sound like a neglected child to me. We do not know the physical and/or medical limitations that challenged him during his young life. I'm sure there will be lot's of debate about the Travolta's belief system and the circumstances of Jett's death, after all we are sleuths right?... For now, I just want to add my deepest condolences on the loss of their son.

 

[MeoW333]

http://www.lohud.com/article/20090104/NEWS/901040367

"FREEPORT, Bahamas (AP) - The Bahamas will use two pathologists to ensure a careful autopsy on John Travolta's son, who died at the actor's vacation home in Grand Bahama, the territory's health minister said Saturday."

"Preston and Travolta have said that Jett became very sick when he was 2 years old and was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, an illness that leads to inflamed blood vessels in young children. Preston blamed household cleaners and fertilizers, and said that a detoxification program based on teachings from the Church of Scientology helped improve his health, according to People magazine."

 

[tapu]

http://www.lohud.com/article/20090104/NEWS/901040367

"FREEPORT, Bahamas (AP) - The Bahamas will use two pathologists to ensure a careful autopsy on John Travolta's son, who died at the actor's vacation home in Grand Bahama, the territory's health minister said Saturday."

Hi, Meowee.

I can't find a source that says either pathologist is a Scientologist. Have I missed it in your citation?

 

[MeoW333]

Hi, Meowee.

I can't find a source that says either pathologist is a Scientologist. Have I missed it in your citation?

Hi Tapu nope, those are 2 different paragraphs qouted. So, no, the pathologist is not a Scientologist to my knowledge.

 

[tapu]

Hi Tapu nope, those are 2 different paragraphs qouted. So, no, the pathologist is not a Scientologist to my knowledge.

Okay, now that's weird. I've either hallucinated, or you've changed your post so that it doesn't claim the second pathologist is a Scientologist now. I don't mind if you were just speculating--just wanted to see if there was a source. I DO mind if I really hallucinated the whole thing! But I guess that's no one's problem but my own! :crazy:

 

[JBean]

I see the server finally let my posts through.. can a mod delete the duplicates?
My apologies for that..

I can do that..but it is really helpful if each poster deletes their own. Go to edit,go advanced, delete post.
thanks

 

[MeoW333]

Okay, now that's weird. I've either hallucinated, or you've changed your post so that it doesn't claim the second pathologist is a Scientologist now. I don't mind if you were just speculating--just wanted to see if there was a source. I DO mind if I really hallucinated the whole thing! But I guess that's no one's problem but my own! :crazy:

what??

 

[MeoW333]

Okay, now that's weird. I've either hallucinated, or you've changed your post so that it doesn't claim the second pathologist is a Scientologist now. I don't mind if you were just speculating--just wanted to see if there was a source. I DO mind if I really hallucinated the whole thing! But I guess that's no one's problem but my own! :crazy:

You must have hallucinated that, i didn't post anything saying the pathologist was a scientologist.lol

 

[JBean]

Okay, now that's weird. I've either hallucinated, or you've changed your post so that it doesn't claim the second pathologist is a Scientologist now. I don't mind if you were just speculating--just wanted to see if there was a source. I DO mind if I really hallucinated the whole thing! But I guess that's no one's problem but my own! :crazy:

I think if you reread the thread it was a different poster that made that claim.


Thanks to everyone for the well wishes regarding my son. he is doing very very well.