John Travolta's son dies in Bahamas

This is so sad. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Travolta's family. Full Story

I just read that he hit his head in the bathtub. Maybe that triggered the seizure. Or, maybe he started having a seizure, which caused him to hit his head. That's very sad. He was only 16.

How tragic. My prayers go out to them.

Police have issued the following statement:

"At about 11:40 am on Friday 2.1.09, officers at the Central Detective Unit on Grand Bahama received information that Jett Travolta, 16 years, son of movie star John Travolta, fell ill while at Old Bahama Bay Resort in West End and is en route to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport via ambulance.

As a result of this report, a team of officers were dispatched to investigate.

They received information at the hospital that Travolta was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Information is that the deceased arrived on Grand Bahama on 30th December 2008, aboard a private aircraft, accompanied by his father and mother Kelly of Encino Drive, California 91436.

They were staying at Travolta's suite number at the Old Bahama Bay Resort. Further information is that Jett suffered from seizures. He was last seen on 1st January 2009 when he went to use the bathroom at their residence.

He was discovered in the bathroom in an unconscious state around 10:00am on Tuesday 2nd January 2009. Arrangements are being made to have an autopsy performed, in order to determine the exact cause of death."






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This is so sad!

The more I read into this, the angrier I get. In one of the articles, it talks about how Jett has had a history of seizures, and given that the Travolta's are Scientologists, they don't believe in medication. He may have been treated to some degree, but I'm willing to bet that, compared to other kids his age with seizures, that he wasn't being treated as he should. It's something to think about...............The whole Scientology thing is way out of whack for me. Tom Cruise is a prime example.

Oh my gosh Teresa I hope that's not the case, but I certainly see where you're coming from. I just feel sick right now. How numb those parents must feel at this moment.

The reports say that Jett was last seen entering the bathroom on Thursday. His body was found by a caretaker, late Friday morning. As tragic as this is, it just baffles me that he wasn't found until late the next morning. Where were his parents on Thursday night? Why wasn't anyone around? That's just so sad. I'm not trying to pass judgment, but I sincerely hope that he was being treated properly for his seizure disorder. The Scientology beliefs really trouble me in a situation such as this. He was so young..............

It sounds like the parents were gone, like spent the night somewhere or something, and it's the nanny who was left with the kids and the nanny who didn't find him. I don't find that so illogical...having teens myself, they sleep late, so I'm sure if he went to the bathroom that night she didn't know about it, and probably just figured he wasn't up yet that morning. I wouldn't 'fault' John & Kelly for staying over somewhere and leaving their kids...especially considering they even had a nanny, considering Jett was 16 and certainly old enough to care for his 8 year old sister. I am concerned to learn if Jett was on meds though...this will put Scientology back in the limelight (and not in a good way) if he actually wasn't being treated.

I agree, Amy. It's just too bad that no one was able to find him earlier. When I saw "caretaker," I wasn't thinking nanny, but that would make sense. I think I was thinking housekeeper.

This article discusses what Jett suffered from.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090103/en_celeb_eo/77270;_ylt=Aif0AchHHhoAp.4k_6AZj.gDW7oF

Teresa wrote:

I agree, Amy. It's just too bad that no one was able to find him earlier.

That will most likely haunt them for the rest of their lives. You know? The "what if" questions. What if they had called to say goodnight, what if they'd stayed home that night, what if someone had found him before bedtime, what if they hadn't gone on vacation. . . . Questions that really have no answers, but will plague them, anyway. It's possible, though, that even if he'd have been found right away, that nothing could have been done.

Such a terrible thing to have to go through.

Oh I can't even imagine all the 'what ifs' going through their minds right now, Savannah, and as you said, how this will plague them. You know, I hope that the autopsy reveals that he died quickly (I'm thinking if it's a brain hemorage from hitting his head that would have been quick, right?), but at least that knowledge might help them cope better. Even more horrific than your child dying is thinking of them dying alone. I would hate for them to have an image of him suffering.

Teresa, it could be the housekeeper, I'm not sure. One article I read said nanny, one said housekeeper. Either way though, it was (hopefully) a responsible adult in the house.

Hearing something like this just makes you hug your kids a little tighter, doesn't it???

I'm thinking that he probably hit his head on the bathtub pretty hard, which would most likely leave him unconscience. If he started bleeding internally, then there's probably no chance of him waking up. At least that way he wouldn't have suffered. Savannah is right, though. Even if someone would have found him earlier, most likely they wouldn't have been able to revive him. I hope that you guys don't think I sounded heartless, blaming his parents and all. I don't blame them for not being there. Things can happen so quickly, whether you're there or not, and then you're left with all of the "what if's."

Of course not Teresa...it's natural to 'speculate', that's human nature. Believe me, my brain has been wrapped up in the idea that he wasn"t taking meds just because of the Scientology, which I'd take issue with, but I know I'm being judgemental and I don't even know all the facts yet. So right now I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and just my full sympathy. I can't seem to shake this poor family out of my head today, even as I have been going about my business.

Teresa wrote:

The more I read into this, the angrier I get. In one of the articles, it talks about how Jett has had a history of seizures, and given that the Travolta's are Scientologists, they don't believe in medication. He may have been treated to some degree, but I'm willing to bet that, compared to other kids his age with seizures, that he wasn't being treated as he should. It's something to think about...............The whole Scientology thing is way out of whack for me. Tom Cruise is a prime example.

:agree: I am totally with you on that, Teresa!! :yeahthat:

I read this in the Washington Post. How sad. My prayers go out to his family!

My heart goes out to the parents.....i hope one day they can think of Jett and share their treasured happy memories....R.I.P

How horrible. I know they had such high hopes for their children/family in this new year, as well as any other moment. It's always tragic to lose someone, but when it's around a particular holiday or special family event...birthdays, anniversaries, etc, you'll always have that day as another reminder of your loss while others are celebrating the holiday, you know?

They're in my prayers.

That is so true, LM. To think of how they'll feel every new year from now on...at least for a long time anyway. I'm not sure I could ever celebrate it 'joyfully' again if it were me. And yet, you know that Jett would want them to celebrate his life, his memoriy, and perhaps they'll one day get to that point. I hope so. How often I am reminded of Michael's "Remember me of smiles and laughter..."

This reminds me of when Susan St. James and Dick Ebersol lost their teenage son in a plane crash several years back, does anyone remember that? They went on Oprah and I have never heard people speak so candidly about grief. It was very soon after his death, I recall, and yet they were so 'healthy' in their healing process, accepting that he was gone and cherishing his memory. I would think that they could really help the Travolta family, having been through the sudden death of a child themselves.

I hope that the 'Press' and other crap magazines lets this family mourn in peace. I have a feeling that won't happen. They'll thrive off of this...

As sad as this is there is always a reason and lessons to be learned in all of it. There are SO many hollywood couples having children as if it were a clothing trend. I would hope they would really stop and see how fragile life can be. These babies are a gift and need to be treasured. I hope that Jett's life and death will make others see how focused we should be on today.

The Travoltas have posted a letter of thanks on John's website. You know what I think makes it even harder to deal with is that for people who believe in God and life everlasting, these tragedies are difficult, but we can get through because we know that we will meet our loved ones again. But for people like the Travoltas, there is no acknowledgement of the after life, so for them it's like the end.

What a sad, sad situation. Does anyone know if there was water in the tub? I've not heard mention either way, but maybe if he hit his head on the tub he could have drowned in his own bath water. Most teenage kids usually prefer showers so I a sure this isn't the case but it is a possibility. I was shocked when I heard the news.