ABC Health Insider

As a parent who has lost a child (25-years ago) the pain is always there in your heart that never completely heals. But the truth has already been said; who cares how it happen and you question if you did everything you could have done to keep it from happening.

Thank you to Dr. Minshew for sharing in such a matter of fact way. Every parent who has lost a child can relate to what the Travolta's are going through. Every parent that I have talked to who has heard this terrible news has mentioned how they have stopped to re-evaluate their priorities and went out of their way to hug their children (young or adult) and tell them how much they love them.

Cause of death is irrelevant, only the devastating loss of their loved one. Do not criticize, only love and support are welcome in this difficult time. I'm not sure why we seem to put famous people on a pedastal when in reality we are all equal human beings with similar values.

God bless the Travolta family, including grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins - those loved ones who are directly impacted by this loss.

I have a thought I haven't heard anyone else mention anywhere. We were told on the news that Jett had a nanny who accompanied him everywhere and was with him "at all times" because of his history of seizures. If that's true, where was the nanny when Jett fell in the bathroom and wasn't discovered until the next morning. If you were "with him at all times" shouldn't you have noticed that Jett had gone into the bathroom and never returned?

It is not true that he was not found for a long time. Sounds like the Nanny gave him privacy to be in the bathroom, and then after a reasonable time he was checked on. The young man was 16, and deserves privacy to be in the bathroom alone. Shoulda/coulda/woulda won't bring this young man back. The Nannies and family are beating themselves up enough for something that was unavoidable. Peace be with them.

I can totally agree with the comments of these other families.

I lost my 17 year old son last Oct. 2007 in a drive by shooting. He was and innocent by standard at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It's been a year and it still seems like it was yesterday. The pain is so intense and we will never,ever get over losing him.

My heart goes out to the Travolta family and other families who have lost a child. There is nothing worse than having to bury your child before yourself.

May god give them the strength to get through this horrible tradgedy and I can only say, "One day at a time."

Sincerely,
Anna Vega

My daughter fell off a cliff 11 years ago. I still grieve everyday. I miss her, she was 23.

While I no longer define myself thru this tragedy, it is as if it happened yesterday and not a day goes by I don't think about her.

Peoples questions and need to know what happended caused me alot of pain. What difference does it make, she is dead. The comments people made such as "god works in mysterious ways" or "she is in a better" place cut me like a knife.

Just offer condolences to parents who are grieving, DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS AND DO NOT OFFER ADVICE, even if you mean well. A grieving parent is in an altered state of consciousness and the grief is unbearable sometimes.

People mean well but just don't understand what is going on inside.

My condolences to the Travoltas on their loss.

Dan,

The cause of Jett's death most certainly IS relevant! In the articles I have seen so far one single fact stands out: the statemnent that Jett was taken off his Depacote because of decreasing effectiveness. If this was done suddenly ala "cold turkey" it may actually have been the cause of death as a sudden withdrawal of this medication can itself trigger seizures.

As any doctor (or parent) can tell you, the therapeutic level of Depacote is influenced by many things, including changes in body mass and biochemistry, changes that are the norm for teenagers. Careful monitoring is necessary to maintain the proper blood levels of valproic acid (Depacote); either too little or too much can decrease effectiveness.

If the withdrawal was gradual and under a doctor's supervision everything is kosher; however, if it was done suddenly without medical supervision it becomes a situation where endangerment is an area that must be considered.

Most Probable cause of Jett Travolta's death

The chemical exposure that would cause Kawasaki Syndrome (BUTYL or 2-butoxyethanol - an organic solvent & a pesticide) is also a cause of serious anemia.

I suspect this advanced autoimmune hemolytic anemia was the more probable cause of death. It is not generally found by doctors, but it can be.

www.valdezlink.com/re/jettdiscuss.htm#on

I'm not a scientologist but I am a parent and for anyone to think or imply that the Travoltas (being parents first; celebrities second) would possibly jeopardize their child's safety for their religious beliefs is cruel. It doesn't matter whether they're famous or not, these parents just lost their child. Where has our humanity gone? Instead of showing compassion, we show a strong desire to gossip, judge, criticize, and speculate about these parents. My heart goes out to them and I hope they have the strength to endure the cruelty of their fellow humans.

I agree with most who have commented in this forum - NOTHING will bring back Jett and NOTHING will lessen the Travola's pain. However, one thing WILL add to their pain, which they DO NOT deserve, and that is speculation into the cause of their son's death and whether they were anything other than dutiful and loving parents. It sounds like they did all they could.
My son was on Depakote and regularly had his liver function checked, because this drug can damage the liver. When the DOCTORS discovered it was causing damage to Jett's liver, they took him off the medicine. If it was a DOCTOR who determined this, then he did it with regard to proper protocol for the drug and disease it was being used to treat. So I am sure it was not stopped cold turkey as the previous poster stated. Get your facts straight and leave the Travolta's alone.

Please....nothing matters but the fact that a child was lost, a family is in pain...give them prayers, privacy and respect!!! They are a "family" in need of one another right now...they are not a circus act for the showing...please, just keep them in your prayers and hug yourself and your own even tighter.

I totally agree with this women and feel like so many have sounded entirely too judgmental and mean about this. Based entirely on speculation I might add. It's tragic and have some compassion.

I CAN NOT IMAGINE THE LOSS OF MY CHILD BEFORE MYSELF. AT THIS TIME THE TRAVOLTA'S ARE JUST REGULAR PEOPLE WHO HAS LOST A CHILD AND ARE IN A LOT OF PAIN. I LIVE IN LOUISIANA AND A FAMILY HERE JUST LOST 2 YOUNG SONS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND THE OTHER SON IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT. THEY BURIED ONE SON TODAY AND WILL BURY ANOTHER TOMORROW. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL HEAL THE OTHER SON AND NOT TAKE HIM FROM THESE PEOPLE. WHO CAN BURY 3 SONS IN 3 DAYS AND LIVE THROUGH THAT. I PRAY FOR THEM AND THE TRAVOLTA FAMILY.

Dear John and Family, I am so sorry for the lost of your Son Jett, hold your head up pray for God to give you strength because this is what will bring you thru this.
Lean on God he will bring your Family thru this.

We all have pain in our life and God is the answer.
My prayer are with you

I am saddened by the loss of the Travolta's son death. There simply are no words to console them. I too lost a child, 17 yrs old, 11 yrs ago. I think of her every day still, and yes when they said their heart has been broken...so was mine.

God is the answer, as is loving support from others. My prayers are with them.

Whether people agree or not their religion is going to play a part in this sad situation. It's happened before with other religions. The fact that it's a very unpopular religion even makes them more susceptible to alot of accusations and speculations. Why not just remember that a young beautiful boy has suddenly passed away and his parents must be in the most unimaginable pain.

Dr. Minshew is very wise. Whatever one thinks about Scientology, there is no reason to be so cruel as to suggest that the Travoltas are to blame for what happened to Jett.

I have never really been a fan of John Travolta but my heart truly goes out to him, Kelly and Ella. I wish the media would leave them alone and allow them to grieve for Jett.

I lost a daughter in 1972 to cancer and i still miss her everyday.I know what the Travolta's are going through.I always think of what she would of been today had she lived.It is so sad she never graduated high school,college or married and had children.I miss my Deborah but things do get better in time but you never forget.God Bless the Travolta family