My heart goes out to the family.  I have seen the video of the family where some insinuate Jett is stimming.  It is hard to deny the blank look on his 16 year old face.  It is almost even more sad if Jett was autistic  and his family could not acknowledge him as he was.

In general, a family's decision about what to do re: how autism or any special need and how it affects their family is their own. I'm bothered when people make judgments about whether family's choose to pursue services, etc. Of course, I suppose a different element comes in to play when one one is famous...

Either way, I'm so sorry for the Travolta family and my heart goes out to them. They must be in tremendous pain.

I was so saddened by the news of John Travolta's son. This is a tragic story, whether his parents admitted to his autism or not. Beliefs must be respected even if they're not our own. Not everyone wants to advocate for autism. Many just crave for a sense of normality. Maybe the Travoltas just didn't want to expose their son to media scrutiny and sensationalism?

One doesn't want to judge of course, especially given the sad circumstances-----I think there might be a larger issue in question of here that's not so much about the Travoltas as why some might resist, or prefer not to have, an autism diagnosis.
From <a href="http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b77270_closer_look_what_ailed_jett_travolta.html?sid=rss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories">EOnline</a>, it's said that Kelly Preston "believes toxic cleaning products in her family's home caused her son's health problems early in life."

It is sad to see any child die of any disease. Whether or not this has anything to do with the religion of the boy's parents isn't really an issue having anything at all to do with autism itself. If I was having children today I would insist that the pediatrician give my children vaccines one at a time. This is the only way to get vaccines that do not contain timerasol or any other preservative (which all are made of mercury), but it also gives the doctor and parents a chance to catch any problems from each vaccine at the same time that the young child is  also not getting overloaded with pathogens and other chemicals needlesly. The FDA says that vaccines are not the problem. I say, "nothing I have read from them convinces me this is not so. However, I also know that children who are now getting adequately treated for LYME disease are having their autism go away as a result of such treatment. Lyme disease itself is another vastly under-reported and under-treated epidemic that our health system is responsible for but ignoring.

I feel terrible for them, losing their son.

I've read some pretty ugly things on the Web about the Travoltas and their attitude about their son's likely autism. Who cares? He was their son, they loved him, they lived a wonderful life with him. They weren't abusing him or neglecting him, and it's not really anyone else's business to point fingers about whether or not they "hid" their son's autism or turned their faces from the obvious or blamed an unlikely disease like Kawasaki's. That's their decision. They just lost the child they loved. How they loved him was their decision alone, given that no laws were broken.

I know people would have liked to have seen a high-profile couple like this one embrace who their son is and show the world the varied nature of autism. But that decision was theirs to make, not anyone else's. These things will happen, but the Travoltas did not choose to be the conduit.

He's toe walking in a picture I've seen, and before I'd even read the Travolta story from today, I saw the headline and a picture of their son and thought to myself, "I didn't know the Travoltas had an autistic child." Now, they don't have their son at all, and that's the true tragedy at this point, not whether or not they chose to acknowledge his autism.

I sincerely doubt that the Travolta family was anything but loving and caring for their son, both in emotional, intellectual, and economic ways. To even suggest that there was some lack due to religious beliefs is a little callous, and a lot judgemental.

What possible reasons could a family have for keeping things quiet? You express possible things like ". . .concern? worry? even shame?"  I find that a bit insulting.  How about this - PRIVACY.  His family concerns and details are none of anyone's business but his family.  Just because he is a celebrity does not mean he needs to share every detail of his life with you.

Stop looking for conspiracies.

My thoughts go out to this family.

Not looking for a conspiracy, but considering why families might choose not to disclose their child's diagnosis, and the possible consequences. For some families (regardless of celebrity or other status), it's a struggle not only to come to terms with the diagnosis, but to let others know about it.

Kristina -
You referenced Scientology which is what prompted that "conspiracy" mention.

And not to be snarky, but I still ask you - why?  Where is the mandate that a parent - celebrity or not - has to disclose private and personal information to anyone?  I read the Post article - Travolta is "pressed" to release information. How dare they.  What gives them, or you, or anyone the right to pry into information that the individual and/or family does not want to divulge? 

Why does a family - celebrity or otherwise - have to let anyone know anything they do not want to?
That does not mean they are not coming to grips or dealing with something, by "not disclosing their child's diagnosis".

If a child has anorexia must the parents then inform the public?  If a child has depression, or anxieties, or a learning disorder - must they notify the press?  Not sure why a celebrity family must be under a different type of scrutiny than anyone else.  If the Travoltas chose to keep this one close to themselves - what is wrong with that?  And what possible "consequences" - that you might not know what the child had? Why should you? 

And if "Scientology" has anything to do with them not wanting to announce their child's illness, then what has that got to do with anything either?  Christian Scientists also have a differing view of the medical profession.  Are you saying that a person's religious beliefs are not sacred to them as long as TMZ wants information? 

I truly do not mean to be argumentative or confrontational, but the public at large has a warped view of what "must" be disclosed by someone just because they are a celebrity.  Dr. Phil and all his modern day opportunistic "therapists" have created a culture where one MUST divulge their privacy, rather than respectfully deal with it within their own families.

Let the family make their own decisions for themselves. The NY Post, the Gawker, TMZ, you or I have no say at all in the matter.  Respect that privacy that they seem to have so wanted.

Stop now, does this mean we cannot talk about any public figure? 
Stop Now, why did you engage in the conversation if you felt the conversation was off limits?  

Robert -
Of course we can discuss them Robert, you very clearly knew that and no where did I point otherwise.  But they themselves do NOT have to share private information.  Celebrities are not off limits and I never said that. What I clearly said was that a person's private life was their business and no one else's.

With that in mind - this blog poster above makes assumptions based on a family's wish for privacy and silence about private family health matters. That is the point I was making.  That is why I "engaged in the conversation" as you pointedly asked, and from my postings that was quite clear. despite the fact that you are trying to circle around it and prove something that is not there. 

No where did I say we could not discuss public figures. I however did say that they (meaning the public figures) were under NO obligation to reveal private information to us - the same way a person in the "private" sector is under no obligation.  We can discuss John Travolta, but we should not -as the Post's headline states "press" him for information.  And if the celebrity or anyone chooses to remain private it would be a long leap to come to the conclusion that it is ". . .concern, worry, even shame" as the blogger does above.  How utterly suspicious.   And in that suspicion, it demeans the very privacy we are supposed to be protecting. with respect and care.

If you feel it is fair to conjecture about someones motivations based on their privacy and silence, then the best I can say is it is pure gossip.  Didn't think that was what these blogs were about, but based on the sources listed above - TMZ (gossip), NY Post Page Six (gossip), and Gawker (gossip) that is about all it amounts to.

Does not give one much for a substantive conversation now does it?

When I read about this today, I was very upset. I have heard that Jett was autistic, and I was always sad to think that he was being denied services and intervention because of his father's wish to live in denial.

Now upon reading that Jett was last seen going into a bathroom and not discovered until THE NEXT DAY by a caretaker at the property, I have to ask this: If it's true the boy was known to have seizures as his parents have reported, WHY WAS HE LEFT ALONE to take a bath?!?

Whatever the answer is, it won't bring this kid back. But because of his father's wealth, his death will probably never be properly investigated.

Re Stop Now's defense of 'privacy,' I think that denying one's child the health services he needs to achieve a good quality of life, constitutes child neglect, both legally and morally.

Sister Wolf -
Where does any of the articles state that he was "denied health services" - once again conjecture.

I just, for the sake of argument, perused about 7 different articles on the death. None come close to laying any blame on the parents in any respect.  Unless you and the blog poster know information that the NY Times, the Washington Post and scores of other credible media have.

This is all the media states about him going in - "The teenager had last been seen going into the bathroom on Thursday"

I did not realize that if a teenager is known to have seizures that a parent must follow him into the bathroom each time he goes.  It also says he "hit his head" on the bathtub and was found in there - it does not explicitly state that he was taking a bath - though again, I did not realize that a 16 year old - prone to seizures or not - had to be watched when taking a bath if that was indeed the case. This was not a child.

The only defense I am giving is for privacy and NOT to jump to conclusions and gossip.  There is a lot of conjecture here on change.org about motivations and pointing fingers - "constitutes child neglect, both legally and morally" that is not appearing anywhere else.  Silence does not make something wrong.

Why do people have to jump immediately to pointing fingers? Especially with death?
Because it gives them some brief satisfaction that it could not happen to them.  "If I was the father I would have gotten him better treatment.".  "If I was the mother, I would have had someone watch him in the bathroom".  And in doing so we are fooling ourselves into thinking we can control death.  "There but for the grace of God -WE will never go because we know better."  When someone is murdered it would not happen to us because WE would never go into that neighborhood. When someone dies in an accident it would never happen to us because WE do not speed like that. Etc. False security.

All media points to the fact that this child was LOVED by his parents.  If his religion is something you disagree with, then you should choose not to follow it.  Tell that to the Christian Scientists as well, and any other religion that brings its own philosophy into the medical profession.

It seems that here on this blog, freedom and privacy only exists as far as if it is something YOU would do and YOU would agree with.  Leave the Travoltas to grieve for their son, and stop conjecturing falsely about child neglect.  If something is found in the autopsy that raises suspicions, we will hear about it - even with the father's wealth. 

Read some stories about the child's life and the Travolta family - a loving family. 

I was with my HFA son who is 13 when the breaking news came on ABC during a commercial.  I was saddened and by looking at the video shown over and over on Larry King Live he sure had an autism look about him.  I feel sad for the family and for the sister.  My main concern is that he was left alone in the bathroom and not noticed missing at all.  To think a caretaker found him at 10 AM makes it all that more painful.

Hey Kristina - Nice new home!  ;)

I can't imagine that any ICU is full of kids with Kawasaki's, considering how rare it is.  Unless there is a big Scientology doctor out there misdiagnosing all these kids...which is freaking Scary.  The Wiki on this is just so not an epidemic to fill ICUs in the USA.....

Of course it is sad.  What is sad is that because of Scientology, the Travoltas had to hide or run away from autism.  (Remember Tom Cruise and the psychiatrist episode?  If there was ever a deserving candidate....)  Denial and rejection are Scientology's creed.  Which is SO sad for Jett.  There is so much video on Jett, video of him stimming, flapping, toe walking; it's obvious to all of us as parents of auties. 

Services and what parents do or can get for their children that way is one thing.  However, seizures can be medically treatable.  And Neglect - well, that is no different than any other form of child abuse...   That the "housekeeper"  (aka Hotel Maid?!) found this boy is just criminal.   If that is true....well, you know if that were you or I, we would be thrown in the slammer for it.  Sounds like Love to me, does it to you?

The boy has peace now.

It is a tragedy indeed.

Facts are facts -- it is well-known that scientologists do not believe in medical interventions and consider sickness of any kind to be a weakness.  So Kristina is not just "speculating."  Yes, we are not certain if Jett was autistic.  And I agree that the Travoltas have the right to not disclose that information.

In the bigger picture, if a parent cannot accept and advocate for his own child, who will?

My heart goes out to the Travolta's and their awful loss.

Kids die everyday from ailments not cured or healed by modern medicine. Please don't judge.

For many reasons, we can't put all our eggs into the 'mainstream medicine' basket. Seizure meds are not guaranteed to stop/cure seizures. We don't even know the full story, and based on how harsh people are when it comes to being "different" in beliefs (both religious and medicine), why should they disclose what treatment Jett received?

i think this is not our place to judge .or armchair diagnose.Diagnosed with Kawasaki disease,
and we don't know what else.
 an autopsy is planned.

http://www.hmc.psu.edu/childrens/healthinfo/jkl/kawasaki.htm

Stop Now - Oh, you didn't realize that a teenager with a seizure disorder needs to be followed to the bathroom to take a bath?

Well, now you do know! Jett had TWO NANNIES to take care of him. Why? Because he was not capable of being left alone.

You clearly have no experience with autistic children or teens. A severely autistic teenager does not have the ability to cross the street alone, or to bathe alone if he is given ato seizures. Up to 50% of autistic children also have epilepsy.

It is very well documented that Jett's condition was NOTHING like Kawasaki disease, which uusally clears up in a matter or DAYS when treated properly.

Jett Travolta was non-verbal and could barely feed himself, and yet his father has said in interviews that he and Jett love talking and playing sports.

Mr. Travolta could have done better by his son.

Stop Now, would you be a Scientologist by any chance? Your vigorous denial of Jett's autism is very strange. In any case, since you know so little about autism, it's great that you've found this blog, where you can get educated!

Dear Sister Wolf - deflection through accusing me of being a Scientologist. How fallacious of you. If someone has an opinion different than yours, make up their agenda and frame of reference for them. Brilliant and false.

No. I am a Catholic - other people than Scientologists have opinions you know.

And I have never ever "vigourously" denied the possibility of autism in this case so it can't be strange.  I invite you heartily (actually, since you stated a falshood I fairly demand) to please go through my posts and see where I denied his autism?  I look forward to your correction of that since it is an out and out malicious falsehood that you stated. Once again, fallacious.

I simply said let the Travoltas be private if they wish.  I never said right or wrong on the diagnosis (in fact, I believe he was indeed autistic from all the videos shown and the history of the boy.) - My entire context was that a celebrity has NO mandate to reveal anything they do not want to, and that silence does not dictate ignorance or malice or "shame". I simply was saying - let it be private - and how dare anyone else conjecture or - well, let us be honest - GOSSIP.  So if you wish to speak to me about privacy, please do so - a lecture on autism is not needed.  It is something that is indeed tragic for any family - and that was my point.  Just because Travolta and his wife are celebrities does not mean they have to share their private tragedy with the media.  I also said do not be so quick to point fingers.  That is all.

Here are a couple of new news items to show you the extent the Travolta's went, and also a brush up of some of the gossip that existed in the first few hours after the child's death.  The child it seems did NOT collapse Thursday night (something the media spouted out) but most likely Friday morning - and the child WAS monitored - all I was saying that he could not have an eagle eye on him 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/01/03/2009-01-03_john_travolta_emt_struggled_to_save_16ye.html
"McDermott, a lawyer who was vacationing with Travolta among a group of about 60 friends and family they had invited for the New Year's weekend, insisted that Jett - who is said to suffer from a rare childhood ailment that affects the blood vessels - was fine on Thursday night. The teen was discovered soon after he collapsed Friday morning, McDermott said. "A nanny slept 8 feet away from him. A baby monitor was always on. Everything possible was done to ensure the child's safety," McDermott said."

Or how about this one from the Boston Herald:

http://news.bostonherald.com/track/celebrity/view/2009_
01_04_John_Travolta_s_lawyers_deny_son_s_body_left_for_hours/srvc=home&position=also
" Police said Jett was last seen going into a bathroom in the family’s private suite at the Police said Jett was last seen going into a bathroom in the family’s private suite at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island on Thursday. Caretaker Jeff Michael Kathrein found the boy’s body around 10 a.m. Friday.But John Travolta attorney and buddy Michael McDermott and family lawyer Michael Ossi said the boy went back and forth between his room and the bathroom. McDermott told TMZ that it was a “small window of time” between the time Jett fell and was found by the nanny.Police said Jett was last seen going into a bathroom in the family’s private suite at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island on Thursday. Caretaker Jeff Michael Kathrein found the boy’s body around 10 a.m. Friday.But John Travolta attorney and buddy Michael McDermott and family lawyer Michael Ossi said the boy went back and forth between his room and the bathroom. McDermott told TMZ that it was a “small window of time” between the time Jett fell and was found by the nanny.and family lawyer Michael Ossi said the boy went back and forth between his room and the bathroom. McDermott told TMZ that it was a “small window of time” between the time Jett fell and was found by the nanny."

My sole point was privacy and not to gossip. That was all.  The public needs to stop conjecturing about motives within seconds of a tragedy occurring - one of the dangers of this world where we may get immediate information from the news channels, but only partial information "This just in".

So to sum up: No denial of autism, and again I invite you to attempt to prove your false statment from mine, Still maintain you cannot follow the child 24/7 and the Travoltas did MUCH to ensure the safety of the child, and finall, wait for all the information to be provided before you gossip and conjecture and finally - allow a family, no matter who, to be private if they choose.

Stop Now -Your hysteria suggests a hidden agenda.

Your reflexive "sincere doubt" that the Travoltas showed their son anything but love and support is based on....what?

To keep a child hidden away is cruel. Period.

To quote you, sir: "I did not realize that a 16 year old - prone to seizures or not - had to be watched when taking a bath if that was indeed the case. This was not a child."

There is much you don't know, and of course, much that I don't know. But I DO know that this boy was kept separate from the rest of the family on most public occasions, and I do know that he was not 'mainstreamed' in any sense.

The story of Jett's death has been spun, and will be spun further.

I agree with Karen D.'s comment: "if a parent cannot accept and advocate for his own child, who will?"

Sister Wolf -
If anyone is supporting a not so hidden agenda it is yourself my dear.  You look at the world and everyone else based on your frame of reference.  Let the Travolta family deal with this situation based on THEIR frame of reference. I am not imposing mine on them - you and others here who are casting aspersion at them are doing that.  I am saying "leave them alone"

My sincere doubt which you state above is based on - What? How about interviews, news items, over the last 16 years where the Travoltas have discussed their son Jett?  I have seen mention of him often (I live in Florida, perhaps we see more of them here because they are native to our state?) and there are many interviews where they discuss their son and his illness.
No, they did not believe it was autism.  If you google it I am sure you can find some of them because they have been playing them over and over on the news channels since the events of Friday.

Is that correct? I - nor you - know the facts as of yet. That is what is called gossiping about someone.  If pushed, I would also conjecture that it is autism. 

Did their religion declare certain things about this? Well yes it did - that is their belief system. Not yours. Theirs. The same way that Islam has multiple beliefs I would think you would disagree with, or the fact that you believe in rights for homosexuals from what I see of your profile - so some Christian religions have things you also would disagree with - and many religions have certain beliefs on medicine and the medical profession that others would call old fashioned or even harmful.  So. Be. It. It is their belief system - not yours.  You cannot impose YOUR beliefs on them - they must make alterations to their belief systems on their own.

These are two celebrities who have always been private about their family lives.  There are many celebrities who do not even want their children photographed.  There is nothing wrong with that - it is called privacy, and we the general public must accept that.  But why can't we?

No one can say what this family did in the privacy of their own home. But you seem to not be satisfied unless he stood up on a mountain top with cameras rolling and declared "MY SON HAS THIS DISORDER!  YOU ALL MUST KNOW!"

Instead, I find it more loving to keep his son close to his heart and love him and support him without hanging him from his coat sleeve so to speak.

That is all my "hidden agenda" is for. The allowance of privacy for a family that wished for that privacy.  What is so hard to understand about that?

We have become not only a celebrity obsessed culture, but one obsessed with our celebrities telling us every detail of their lives, and sharing them - therapy like - with the airwaves.  I would call that the "Oprah-ization" of America. And I find that sad and horrid.  We must all be victims in some way, and we must all share and openly declare that victimization.

Perhaps to John Travolta his son was not an autistic child.  Perhaps he was just simply his son and he loved him as such.

Neither one of us has any facts.  The story of Jett's death is indeed spun - by all parties - you included, me included, anyone who is not a direct member of this family or home who is discussing it ad nauseum. 

And one last thing - You still have not gone back to my postings to show me where I deny Jett's autism.  That was an out and out complete and total falsehood that you purposefully claimed in your posting two entries above, and I really would like a clarification on that.  That would be the decent and credible thing to do.  If you make an outright statement of fact that is in reality incorrect, you might want to acknowledge that.  I have stated no falsehoods - only my personal opinion and varied supports for that.  You however did very clearly state something incorrect and attribute it to me.

And now look at that.
When one waits even more information gets released. Which is why I keep saying "let us stop conjecture and wait"

Once leaving this blog after posting above, I came across two relatively new articles:

From thet site Radaronline.com - two interiews. One with Michael McDermott, and one with the emergency technician who arrived at the scene:
First - McDermott's interview that speaks of anti-seizure medications -
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/01/travolta-friend-meds-gave-jett-organ-damage.php
Varied cuttings:
"In the aftermath of the tragic death of Travolta's son Jett, many reports have stated or implied that Travolta and wife Kelly Preston did not have Jett on seizure medication, even though the teenager often had seizures. Some reports have blamed Travolta's Scientology beliefs for not properly treating Jett."Look," an exasperated McDermott told RADAR about erroneous published reports, "neither I nor my fellow point-man Michael Ossi are Scientologists. "We're John's lawyers, his friends, who happened to be on vacation with him."The people writing these reports "don't know what they're saying. Luckily John and Kelly are not reading their laptops."McDermott said that the blind allegations that because Preston and Travolta are Scientologists they refused to administer anti-seizure medication to Jett, are false."They gave him an anti-seizure medication Depakote for over a year," McDermott told RADAR. "It extended the seizures out to over 21 days. But ultimately the attacks got closer and closer, they had to give more and more medication, and it started to cause organ damage so they stopped."As far as I know Jett was no longer on medication. But his parents and two nannies supervised him night and day. "So their religious beliefs did not influence him in their treatment or cause his death. His parents did not cause him to fall, his parents did not cause his death. These are terribly cruel, baseless and nasty accusations.""

And one on the type of injury and when it was sustained with the emergency technician Marcus Garvey - this speaks to time of the accident which has come into question above:
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/01/bahamian-emt-crew-chief-recounts-travolta-nightmare.php
" When Garvey arrived at the Travolta's home, he tells RADAR that Jett had been moved into a hallway and a doctor was performing CPR on the boy. Jett was unconscious and had a hematoma. "There was a minimum amount of blood," Garvey said, describing it as consistent with someone who had just had a seizure."

Which fully supports the links I already posted above, that the seizure was not on Thursday night, but on Friday immediately before he was discovered.

Again, if we bother to wait for the news things will be forthcoming.  Anything else we do (myself included) is gossip, an invasion of privacy, and pure conjecture.  In fact everything we have heard so far may transform in the light of reality over the next few days.  Why not wait and see before pointing immediate blame?  And allow this family to mourn? In privacy?

Nope, I'm not going to 'clarify' anything. I've seen the stories you quoted, and yet the police department is still sticking to it's original report and timeline.

If you genuinely believe that this boy was autistic, then you must agree that the Travoltas were living a lie. If they lied about their son's condition, why expect the truth about his tragic death?

Privacy is fine, except when it impinges upon the rights of a child.

That's MY story, and I'm sticking to it.

It is very sad to hear they took him off of medications, especially knowing that depakote is not the be all and end all of anti-seizure medications.  There are other treatments and medications that can be given.  You would think he would have been on something, you know?  It is also very sad to hear that, off of medications, they did not hire a nurse or other medical professional to be near him at all times, as untreated epilepsy is very dangerous and very fatal.  Very sad in any case .  Even if the parents were negligent, I am sure they are grieving now.

Sister Wolf -
If is a shame that since I never denied Jett's autism, in fact, outright said I believed based on video evidence that he was in fact autistic - that you would not be willing to go back and correct your lie about me.  The reports I posted also do not claim that he was not autistic, they simply are giving news reports of an event.  If anything, they may have said the Travolta did not believe him to be autistic.  If I make a factual mistake - I correct it - and that is MY story.
And as to living a lie - to you it is a lie, to them it might have been a religious belief.  Also, it might not be a "lie" at all - they might have just been - oh, wait a minute - private about their beliefs.  We may not agree with it, but I can look at your life and say you are living a lie, or you can look at mine and say the same.  How judgemental that you are willing to fall into that. 

And as to "hiding" children - You know something interesting?  I knew about Jett for years (though you claim he was kept hidden) but the thing I never knew was they had a daughter as well.  Were they hiding her in a deep dark dungeon as well, or perhaps they were just private about their children?  What do you know about their daughter?  Nothing.  Because they are protecting their family from the glare of the cameras through privacy.  Simple.

Nicole -
I agree, there are indeed other medications that could have been explored rather than just dropping the medication once one did not work.  In the next few days we are sure to find out more about exactly what the Travoltas did to ensure the safety of their son.

The media is now reporting that he had two caretakers, a baby monitor, and a bell for when he went into the bathroom.  They have finally issued statements and sent out tons of photos of their family - probably to counteract the gossiping minions and others like them.

Do you remember when Heath Ledger died?  Everyone conjectured this, conjectured that - who was there with him? Was he having an affair? Did someone kill him? Did he commit suicide?  Was it the Joker that did it? Was it one of the Olson twins? 

In the end it was simple and sad. An accidental overdose of drugs. 

The way our news cycle works, we get the headlines before we get the facts.  And that is what starts the finger-pointing-gossip-hordes immediately.  Because, once again - not living the individuals life in question - we all feel WE would know better WE would do better WE would have the right answers.  And that is not the case.

stop now,
 i say this again, in support of you , there will be an autopsy.
and the rare photo of him can be found  on the net _at 15 looks a lot more like dev delay than autism., Not that  ANY OF US have MD's,
IT'S EASY TO speculate  LAY BLAME without ANY FACTS.
Let's not do this.
A Family is grieving. Have some respect.
What about concentrating on finding supports and solutions so AUTISTiC CHILDREN can BECOME ABLE ADULTS. INSTEAD of hopeless WARDS OF THE System..
Any NEW  research on better diagnostics  and information?

This story just seems to grow and grow -- it's certainly been the main story mentioned regarding autism in the past few days, and even though it's not clear at all if this is a story about autism.

Actually, Heath Ledger died of a deliberate overdose of six different drugs, including opiate derivatives. (I am a journalist and cannot reveal my sources.)

We didn't hear much about Ella Travolta because there was no controversy concerning any diagnosis or treatment pertaining to her.

The loss of a child is heartbreaking beyond words.

And I'm sticking to my story.

You know what makes this extra heartbreaking?
It was preventable. But there's a long line of dead unmedicated scientologists found in bathtubs, dead. Scientology would have considered Jett a "degraded being".
Jett had many risk factors for SUDEP--young, male, developmentally disabled, poorly controlled seizures, unmedicated. 
It's a tragedy that's doubly tragic because it could have been prevented. It should not have happened.

From http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/05/entertainment/main4698297.shtml:

"Jett Travolta's body shows no sign of head trauma and his death certificate says he was killed by a 'seizure,' an undertaker said Monday, as the 16-year-old's celebrity parents prepared for a Florida funeral."
Authororities have not yet released the results of the autopsy performed on Monday.

"Actually, Heath Ledger died of a deliberate overdose of six different drugs, including opiate derivatives. (I am a journalist and cannot reveal my sources.)"

Sister Wolf, that is the equivalent of me saying "I am a journalist (guess what, I really am - but only part time, about one article a week on spec) and Heath Ledger died from an alien giving him bizarre scientific tests - I know for sure, but I cannot reveal my sources, but believe me" - no support or credibility whatsoever other than "Trust me, I am telling you, but I can't tell you how I know"

"We didn't hear much about Ella Travolta because there was no controversy concerning any diagnosis or treatment pertaining to her."

Sister Wolf - You have totally proven my point then.  Why not parade Ella in front of the press then? She is an adorable child!  Why not? Because - as I have said all along - they are private.  Their privacy has nothing to do with shame for their son or hiding him away as so many are claiming.  They are private even with a daughter who has nothing (apparently) to hide.

"The loss of a child is heartbreaking beyond words."

Sister Wolf - you and I agree totally and completely.  After hearing from the emergency techs about how Travolta and Preston were grieving and desperately trying to get Jett to hang on, it is breathtakingly tragic.  None of us can fully understand what is happening in their hearts and minds and spirits.

"And I'm sticking to my story."

Sister Wolf - Of course you are. That was expected.

I guess the conjectures will continue:
"Secret Cremation for John Travolta's Son Jett" (Times Online)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5458335.ece

I don't know if that was necessarily a "secret" Kristina.  Since most headlines on the news down here are saying "Travoltas return to Florida with Son's Ashes."  Not that much of a secret.  When John Lennon died Yoko Ono also had him "secretly" cremated.  Again. Not much of a secret.
It is a shame, is it not, that the real issues of this death - Jett, his life, his family, what his disease may or may not have been, and how it could or not have been helped are all clouded under gossip and pure pure pure pure pure conjecture? 

Again. The problem of an immediate news media that posts headlines way before it posts facts.

Following the media stream (which is interesting to interpret in and of itself)---an article in Newsday notes that "Millions of children and adults have seizures in the United States, but dying from one is rare."
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-med-travoltas-son-seizures,0,3913069.story

Bravo Kristina - and I agree, there is an interpretation and a path to follow there!  Thank you for keeping us abreast of factual information available.

anyone hear any actual OFFICIAL FACTS yet on the autopsy?
HOW DO I GET OFF THIS THREAD?

I am not sure it could have been prevented.

I know people with seizure disorders that are on multiple anti-convulsants and yes still have seizures.  A seizure disorder can be LGS or LK and yes seizures still get thru.  Even Ketogenic diet doens't prevent all seizures.  I think in the end for many people the decisions on seizures will always be, is the med (anti-convulsant) or the ketogenic diet bring down the number of seizures to a more acceptable number of seizures.   There is also factors like this anti-convulsant does bring down the number but it makes me stupid and there for a switch to another.  Many types of seizures and seizure disorders still remain idiopathic in orgin. 

The other thing is many people have fallen in bathtubs or bathrooms without having a seizure.  Many elderly people are scared to take a shower or bath because of previous falls in the bathroom.  A fall is a hard thing to prevent for the elderly and why so many elderly are afraid of taking showers and baths and prefer a sponge bath.  The convalesing time for a fall can be a long time.

I do think Jett was loved and whatever the seizure disorder he had, it should remain private to only those who needed to know as in family and caretakers.

Perhaps too many people are reading into this to much and looking to find fault with someone?

My son is 3 he was diagnosed with autisum last year and to be completey honest i didnt want anyone to know the main reason being most people are iggnorant A holes and have a tendency to STARE. And i didnt want my son subjected to people staring at him and whispering it,s just recently i have started telling people because i know my love for my son will protect him from the kind of people who are to dumb to understand his condition . As a parent you love your children but as a parent of a child with autisum you are more protective over them as you know you have to stand up for them against the stigma that is attached to autisum . Unless you have a child with a disabilty you have no idea what it is like and it,s probably even harder for john travolta and his wife as there in the spotlight constantly and they dont want there son to be critised and ridculed because he has special needs.

And if they have chosen not to disclose his personal information it has absolutley nothing to do with the general public at all.
There are many reasons why a parent may not wish to tell people there child has special needs AND NOT BECAUSE THERE EMBRASSED !!!! For one they want there child to be treated like any other averidge child ect, ect, The list goes on .

Please allow the Travolta Family time to grieve the loss of their son.  According to the latest news reports, the family had an entire medical staff for Jett.  Yes, he did to appear to be Autistic but the family showered him with love.  Perhaps, in the near future, the Travolta's will speak out publicly and we can all move on the the next tragedy..

In a statement to the police on February 25, John Travolta stated plainly that Jett was autistic.
By the way, it is amazing how PR people managed to hide the number of mistakes made that led to Jett's death (e.g location, non professional nannies etc.).

amen.