John Travolta's 16 Year Old Son, Jett Travolta, Dies After Reported Seizure Linked to Fall in Bathtub

Two time Academy Award winning actor, John Travolta, and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, have just experienced a great tragedy--their 16 year old son, Jett Travolta, has died after apparently suffering a seizure while on vacation with his family.

The Travolta family was vacationing at Old Bahama Bay Hotel in the Bahamas. Around 10 A.M today, January 2, 2009, Jett Travolta apparently fell in the bathtub and then suffered a seizure as a result of the fall. Jett was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival. Currently the cause of death is unknown, with an autopsy scheduled for Monday. John Travolta's attorney has said that Jett Travolta's body will be brought back to Ocala, Florida, for burial.

The Travolta family also has a daughter, Ella Blue, born in 2000. The Travolta family was close-knit; however, neither Jett nor Ella was seen in the public eye very often. John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are both followers of the controversial religion, Scientology. There have been reports that Jett suffered from autism, but due to their religious beliefs, John Travolta and Kelly Preston refused to acknowledge his autism and get him any developmental assistance. Travolta says that Jett suffered from Kawasaki Syndrome.

What exactly is Kawasaki Syndrome, also known as Kawasaki Disease or lymph node syndrome? Kawasaki Syndrome is an autoimmune disease without any known cause. Kawasaki Disease occurs in approximately 19 out of 100,000 kids in the United States. It is most often seen in children of Korean or Japanese descent, but can happen to any children, regardless of ethnicity.

Kawasaki Disease most often occurs in children under five, and while it cannot be prevented, Kawasaki Disease can be fully treated. If left untreated, however, Kawasaki Disease can lead to serious heart problems.

A few telltale symptoms of Kawasaki Syndrome include a high, persistent fever, severe redness in both eyes, swollen tongue, swollen lymph nodes, swollen hands, a rash, cracked, dry lips, and/or a sore throat. If a child has Kawasaki Disease, he or she may also suffer from vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea. If you suspect that your child has Kawasaki Disease, seek immediate medical attention.

Sources

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/kawasaki.html

http://www.tmz.com/2009/01/02/john-travoltas-son-dies/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_disease