Jett Travolta: Victim of Autism, Kawasaki, or Scientology?

The second I heard this story I knew it would be complicated due to Scientology.  We are free to worship in any way we like as long as it does not hurt others.  Travolta and Preston should be arrested.  Poor Jett.  Imagine being born to these two... all that money and Jett was born into a family incapable of caring for his very special needs. 

It's not "wild speculation."  The Travoltas are on the record for being in denial about psychiatric disorders. In short, they refuse to recognize that the brain is an ORGAN.

If this were a non-celebrity couple, they would be prosecuted.

The one who deserves our condolences is that child -- and any family who has been similarly influenced by the whacko Scientologists (which is NOT a religion...it's a cult).

As a high-functioning autistic who's worked for the past decade as a paramedic, it is glaringly obvious to me that this kid was on the autistic spectrum. I suspect that the repeated seizures also did quite a bit of neurological damage and potentiated the underlying developmental disorder. I would imagine that the Travoltas were under an incredible amount of pressure from both sides regarding Jett, and they elected to save face by adhering to their beliefs (even when it must have been obvious that something was very different about their son). I was very lucky that my mother took the approach she did: I was diagnosed at age 4, and then pulled out of the treatment regimen by my mother, who was disturbed by the levels of psychotropic medications I was being given. She put me on a special diet, and more importantly, had me mainstreamed and challenged academically. I was told from the get-go that certain behaviors would not be tolerated in society. I was allowed to develop my interests and use them as a means to interact with the "regular world". Now I have two college degrees and am in nursing school. I don't advertise my diagnosis, and certainly don't use it as an excuse to get out of anything. My patients don't care what I've got. . .they just need to know they're being cared for appropriately. There are too many people at work who whine about everything without realizing how lucky they are. Perhaps the Travoltas only saw the "extreme treatment" option for autism (drug 'em, institutionalize 'em, keep 'em in therapy for years and years, etc). but since autism is a spectrum disorder that is quite varied, there are multiple ways to treat it. We don't know what measures actually had been taken for Jett. I hope that in the future, the Church of Scientology will learn from this awful situation and recognize that autism can be treated by means their church would approve of.

Scientology believes that it alone understands psychology.  Mental disease is due to engrams. "In Dianetics and Scientology, an engram is defined as "a mental image picture which is a recording of an experience containing pain, unconsciousness and a real or fancied threat to survival." (source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engram_(Dianetics) 

These Engrams cause psychological responses to events.  Additionally they are the catalyst to mental disease.  Once a person is clear the engrams no longer have an effect on the subject and psychological issues are removed.  Scientology does not agree with modern psychology, Psychiatry, or the use of psychotropic medications.

Further reading

1. Tom Cruise: Psychiatry Should Be Outlawed
2. YouTube - Tom Cruise upset about Psychiatry
3. John Travolta Says Psychiatric Drugs to Blame for School Shootings
4. Travolta Echoes Cruise on Psychiatry
   

This is not the firs time scientology is related to deaths because of lack of proper medical treatment. There are some related videos on youtube and information on google. Something must be done, or we will keep getting sad news like this.

Since when was speculation over the cause of death of a child who was strongly suspected of having a neurological disorder and more than likely didn't receive proper care 'negative, destructive thoughts'? If he wasn't receiving proper treatment, then it damn well IS the publics business and the business of the Department of Social Services AND the medical examiner. If Scientology is somehow responsible for Jett's death, don't you think we have a right to know so some other poor family doesn't fall into their trap of promises to 'help' their afflicted child??

'Grumpy, disgruntled neighbors'? How would you know? They had a child with autism, so naturally they would recognise all the signs of it. You think they're wrong to call the Travolta's out on it? That they shouldn't be concerned about a child's welfare if they see something that just doesn't look or feel right?

Ignorance or OSA. Take your pick.

I am also a nurse and noted the same leading as you did.  I also noted the change in his body habitus when looking at images throughout his life and he was not at all large during his younger years, was smiling and touching his mother.  My theory is that he had a seizure disorder, that that seizure disorder was never treated due to their religious beliefs, and overtime caused brain damage and neurologic symptoms.  It is very sad.  It is very difficult to believe that people would not seek proven medical treatment based upon their religious beliefs, especially for their children, but it happens all the time.

Amazing how quickly the Scientology PR machine leaps into action! Within mere minutes of the first leak to the press, one of Travolta's private jets was on its way to Scientology HQ in Clearwater, Florida, then went on to the Bahamas, all while John was chatting up his buddies in government and the police about how to most quickly destroy whatever evidence may exist of wrongdoing via a quick and decisive cremation.

Sickening, but not for the reasons one would normally think. Every indication is that there is a connection between the boy's caregiver and the father which is at best "unsavory."

Social workers always want to find child abuse even when none exists.  Social workers have normally been victims of child abuse themselves and see child abuse where ever they look.  Creating an atmosphere in the United States and elsewhere of child abuse hysteria.

Modern medicine is not perfect. Psychiatry even less so. It is the right and the responsibility of every parent to seek out the best and most appropriate treatment for their child. Parents know children best and are best able to make those decisions not social workers and certainly not the government. The Travolta's just lost their son. Some respect is Mandatory Second guessing by a half witted social worker obtaining information secondhand is not beneficial.  Go to parentalrights.org to protect your parental rights from second guessing nut case social workers like the one above.

China, if they were involved in Jett's death due to action or inaction, such as not providing him with medication that could have saved his life, it is people's business.

Was Susan Smith's children's deaths our business?  The more I think about this the angrier I get.

My son started having seizures when he was 16. Doctors could find no reason for them.  I cannot tell you how many times he seized in the bathroom in the middle of the night and hit his head. He also seized at the top of the stairs once and fell all the way to the bottom. He moved back in with me when he was 21 and he was put on Dilantin. We thought his seizures were under control because he had not had any obvious ones in a over a year. He suffocated in his pillow during a seizure on Feb 3, 08. My heart breaks for this family. I DO know the pain they have gone through and will continue to go through for the rest of their lives (I also lost my oldest daughter when she was 19-she was overseas with the Army-14 years ago). Speculation as to what kind of treatment or condition Jett had will do no one any good-we do NOT know either of these things...just send them positive thoughts, energy and love...they are going to need it.

As a social worker working with children with disabilities I know how prominently denial figures into parental decisions - people believe what they believe and willingness to be open to education or even accepted ideas in mental health/healthcare is sometimes shockingly missing.  I have long argued to child protective colleagues that standard of care for disabled children is a differing standard than for non-disabled peers.  In this case I'm incredulous that a child (albeit a teen) could go to the bathroom one evening and not be discovered until late the next morning, especially if a history of seizure activity were present.

Super Parent, you are NOT.  Idiot, you are.  To assume that Social Workers are themselves victims, just goes to show how ignorant you are.  While modern medicine & Psychiatry are NOT perfect, they DO help a lot of people overcome many problems and to ASSUME that it does not it just plain stupid.  Seeing how you are part of "group" of what I assume are "over" protective parents goes to show that you live in a bubble where every child is "perfect" and lives with the "perfect" caring parents surrounded by the "perfect" environment of a warm cozy loving home with loving family and friends.  Somebody please pop this idiots bubble so she can see how many children truly are neglected and abused and YES should be removed from the home of the abusers.  Therapy HELPS A LOT OF THESE CHILDREN and if you would bother to step out of your bubble for a minute and volunteer some time working in a group home or with social workers or hey adopt a drug baby or a child who has been severely abused maybe even raped, you would see how therapy DOES HELP MANY.  Send me your address so I can write you check for a therapy session because your convoluted view could use the help of a Psychiatrist you naive uneducated idiot.

All this speculation isn't fair, and most of the conclusions are inaccurate. Autism is not a mental illness, and it isn't medically treatable, so if he had it, the family wasn't endangering his life by not seeking treatment. It is a neurological condition that can't be cured. There is no medication, though some (especially adults) are prescribed medications to deal with anxiety and depression, which are common. The treatment available for children is mostly behavior modification to help with social skills. There are other experimental programs that can help with language acqusition and self-calming. Severity and syptoms vary. Some autistic kids have other related issues. If Jett had autism, he may have had a related neulogical condition that caused seizures. While it is sad if the child had autism and the family refused to accept the diagnosis and look for programs to help him, failure to do so is not a death sentence for the child.

It's even more tragic when they didn't seek official medical treatments simply because of their belief system. 

Terri Potratz it appears that the Mayo Clinic gives similar definition to your Opinion re. Kawasaki disease is when the body's immune system goes into overdrive. 

I agree that they need to be left alone to grieve but I am sorry - religious views or not - if your child needs help a parent should do anything to get it - especially when they have the means and the money to do so! Poor Jett! This is borderline of child neglect and the authorities should look into it.

First of I do want to say that I am terribly saddened for the family. No family should ever have to lose a child. Also I have no idea whether Jett was autistic or not. What I can say is that when my son was 2 he was diagnosed with Kawasaki syndrome. At the time the doctors had said that there had been speculation that carpet cleaning solutions could have some link, but they did reiterate that it was speculative. Here's the thing I want to make perfectly clear, Kawasaki has nothing to do with neuological problems. It can be related to coronary anyeurisms. Our son had a rash and a fever of 105, which could not be broken with tylenol or motrin. The only way to break it was with IVIG. Usually with Kawasaki syndrome the fever has to last more than three days before they will even diagnose it as Kawasaki. The rash that our child had was all over his body. He had what was known as strawberry tongue. His symptoms were so classic that thirty other doctors were paraded into our room so that they could see what Kawasaki looked like. If Jett really had Kawasaki syndrome he would have been rushed to the hospital because you can't ignore those symptoms. The other thing, the part that over the years has bothered me about the Travoltas saying that he had Kawasaki syndrome, was that once treated it's done. There is the possibility of a relapse but it would not last 14 years! In the end it doesn't really matter. The poor family has just gone through something horrible. I just don't want his death blamed on something that it very clearly could not have been from.   

Autism IS in fact medically treatable, there's just no cure. I believe that Jett either was autistic or had a similar disorder by watching videos of him and examining the evidence presented.

You're wrong, "Faith N Science." Plenty can be done for children with autism, especially if they have seizures. There are anti-seizure medications, but that falls under the category of "psychiatric medications" -- a Scientology no no.

As a social worker working with children with disabilities I know how prominently denial figures into parental decisions - people believe what they believe and willingness to be open to education or even accepted ideas in mental health/healthcare is sometimes shockingly missing.  I have long argued to child protective colleagues that standard of care for disabled children is a differing standard than for non-disabled peers.  In this case I'm incredulous that a child (albeit a teen) could go to the bathroom one evening and not be discovered until late the next morning, especially if a history of seizure activity were present.

As the parent of a 16 year old autistic son, who happens to also have seizures, I can tell you that while it may be an option whether or not to medicate an autistic child, it is not an option not to at least attempt medication for recurring seizures. Certainly, if you're not going to medicate those with seizures, you'd better have them wear a helmet and watch them every minute. BTW: I watch my son every minute I can and pray to Amighty God (not L. Ron Hubbard) every day that his seizures will never put him in danger. And yes, he is under a doctor's care and is medicated. His medication controls the seizures well. He's only had 7 in just under 4 years - the first 4 were before medication; this last one, coincidentally, was on the same day Jett Travolta died.

Super parent's attitude sounds like sour grapes to me. It's ridiculous to suggest that social workers were abused children, want to see child abuse everywhere, and/or are trying to create child abuse hysteria. Such a big chip on this person's shoulder makes me wonder if he/she has been accused of being abusive him/herself. Not such a "super" parent...

Yes, It's true they recently lost their son and should be given time to mourn for their loss. For that my condolences go out. No parent should bury their child.

What bothers me as a therapist is, how the family didn't seek help for their son, if indeed he did have autism. I understand religious or cultural differences among people.When are people going to realize that ignorance does hurt. In this case by not accepting their sons disability and getting the appropriate help and resources.

I'm not going to get into the "child abuse" subject. We are mandated reporters if child abuse is suspected it has to be reported. What would you rather have a report that is found to be false or a dead child because no one said anything.

Please keep such negative destructive thoughts to yourselves.  Leave this grieving family be. It is none of our business how this family chose to deal with their son's disability and special needs, unless he was unloved, uncared for and in danger.  None of such apply in this case.  Grumpy disgruntled neighbours do not always know the truth.  Just because the Travolta family cared for Jett differently to the way you might, does not mean they were wrong.  JETT, RIP .  Love and peace to John, Kelly and Ella.  May you smile again soon. 

I am the parent of a 12 year old girl with autism. While I agree with much of what you say about treatment, medication, etc. being up to the parent to decide what is best for their child ... I do take issue with the fact that any child with autism needs constant supervision. If in fact this boy did have autism, these parents are negligent and should be treated no differently than anyone else. I do feel for them. I know what it's like to always be afraid of what my daughter may do next. It's like having a toddler forever ... except that they have the body of a young adult, they're extremely smart, and very impulsive. It's quite a challenge for the average parents. Clearly the Travoltas certainly had the resources to get plenty of help. But that is something I'm sure they will have to live with the rest of their lives if what is said here is true. But for now, I think we should all wait and see before we judge these people. Regardless of what happened in the past, they've just lost their son. Have we all lost our humanity?

If the violently insane Scientology Corporation's ringleaders ordered Jett to not receive medication or if they subjected him to their NarCONon fraud, I want some god damned Scientology ringleader or crime boss to do to prison for this latest Scientology related death!  The god damned body count Scientology has has GOT to stop!

I am a teacher and have had students with autism. They can and do smile. It just depends on where they lie on the spectrum of autism. There is a great deal of variety in behavior.

Whoa doggie! It is a myth that autistic children can not be affectionate. While many aren't, I have personal friends whose autistic children are very capable of affection. There are varying degrees of autism. There are also many different types of seizures & I might be wrong, but I don't think autism has a thing to do with epilepsy. Until the autopsy no one will not know what killed this child. Heck, sometimes an autopsy doesn't give you a definitive answer. And as far as Kawasaki dx not lasting into teen years. Yes, it is treatable and there are rarely relapses. But the damage it causes while it is active in your system will last a lifetime. Heart damage, aneurysms, etc. This child could have died from a seizure causing a fall & head injury. He could have died from an ruptured aneurysm that was a direct result of the Kawasaki Dx. He could have slipped & fell. Despite any of that, I am still furious at how Scientologists take care of their ill.

I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who works for a practice that sees autistic children all the time.  You are mistaken that autistic children are not affectionate, this is a myth.  It is true that some severly afflicted children are not affectionate but the majority of children on the spectrum are able to show emotion to people they are close to.  They hug and kiss and seek out family members for reassurance and comfort.  What IS true is that all children on the autistic spectrum have social deficits.  They have trouble with eye contact, back and forth conversation, maintaining personal space and other social "rules."  Children high on the spectrum with things like Asperger's syndrome even marry and have their own families.