Jan 2, 2009 - Jett Travolta, the 16 year old son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston, has died while on a vacation with his family in the Bahamas. The Travolta clan was vacationing at the Old Bahama Bay Resort at the time of Jett's death.
According to reports, Jett was last seen going into the bathroom of the family's suite on January 1st. Jett, who had a history of seizures, was discovered unconscious by a caretaker at 10am this morning and could not be revived. The exact cause of Jett's death won't be known until after the autopsy, however the AP reports police spokesperson Loretta Mackey said Jett hit his head in the bathroom. Jett Travolta was pronounced dead at Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama Island.
While there has been speculation over the years that Jett Travolta was autistic, Travolta and Preston have said he had Kawasaki disease. According to Mary Kugler, About.com's Guide to Rare Diseases, Kawasaki disease is "the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries." Kugler says that while it's unknown what causes Kawasaki disease, some researchers feel it is an "autoimmune disorder stimulated by an infection or exposure to an environmental toxin." [more on Kawaski disease]
Jett, the oldest child of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, was named after his father's love of flying. Jett is survived by his parents and 8 year old sister Ella Bleu.
Update - Jan 4th - Kelly Preston and John Travolta posted a message to fans on her official website on January 3rd:
"We would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences.
Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives. We have received many messages of condolence from around the world and we want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. It has meant so much to us. It is a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit that gives us hope for a brighter future.
With love,
John, Kelly and Ella"
