It’s been three months since John Travolta and Kelly Preston lost their son Jett. Though the family has not made a public appearance since Jett’s death, caused by a massive seizure, those close to John, Kelly and their daughter Ella say they are coping well – thanks to their friends and their faith in the controversial religion of Scientology.
Just months after the sudden loss of their only son Jett, John Travolta and Kelly Preston are slowly letting the world back into their lives. Friends and family say the Travoltas are coping with the teen’s death as well as they can and leaning on their faith in Scientology to find peace.
“John is a strong man, but to lose a loved one, it’s the worst time in anyone’s life,” Olivia Newton-John, a longtime pal, told PEOPLE in its new cover story.
On Jan. 2, the Travoltas’ family vacation turned to tragedy when son Jett was found unconscious in bathtub at the family’s resort in the Bahamas. Jett eventually died of a seizure, despite several attempts to save him. Travolta tried to revive Jett using CPR after the teen was discovered unconscious. “He was doing mouth-to-mouth to resuscitate,” Travolta’s attorney Michael McDermott said.
Actress Leah Remini has watched the family tragedy unfold and says they are dealing with the tragedy very well. “How do you deal with the greatest tragedy in your life? I can tell you that they are handling it the best any parent could ever deal,” Remini said.
While they are still trying to stay out of the public eye, friends say the couple haven’t secluded themselves and are making time to see friends and stay strong for their daughter Ella Bleu.
“They aren’t secluding themselves or paralyzed,” a family friend said. “[Seeing them] was like old times. Nothing awkward and no topics to dance around. There were smiles.”
Despite controversy with their religion, friends say Scientology has helped the family find peace with their son’s death. “They’re relying on their faith to get them through this. Their faith is solid, and their family is solid,” said a friend.
I certainly can’t condone the principles behind Scientology – it sounds like organized lunacy to me – but I can understand their grief, and their need to cling to some kind of comfort in this nightmarish time. When we lost our baby in January, we really needed to understand why. It didn’t make any sense to us. Maybe people who have religion in their lives can find comfort in leaving the “why” question in the hands of God, Jehovah, Xenu or whatever. For us, that wouldn’t have worked. But one thing I’ve learned is that everyone gets through their grief differently. It’s also a blessing to have other children in your life when something like this happens – they bounce back very quickly and remind you that life goes on, even after something terrible happens.
“Everyone gets through their grief differently,” so true. The supportive process for me has been the most important … simply having a voice giving words to my pain.
Who’s the woman with John?
Um, the woman with John is his wife Kelly Preston.
I can’t stand scientology, but losing a child is a terrible tragedy, and if their faith, however misplaced, gets them through this terrible time, then perhaps there is some small modicum of good in it.
Whenever I see Leah Remini’s name mentioned in pretty much any article especially with regards to scientology I seriously have to roll my eyes.
Didn’t she say she was the first person to see Suri Cruise after she was born? Sounds like she is trying to remain in scientologist’s good graces with a crappy career nowadays.
That sort of bullshit has no place when talking about a bereaved family. My prayers are still with then and with you MSAT.
I’m glad to see the family is going ok. It’s never easy. That little boy bought John a lot of happiness. Keep in mind, the public has seen this little boy too. I remember his werewolf hair and his blue eyes since he was a little baby and to know that he’s gone at such a young age is really sad. I think of my own kids.
I got real emotional this morning seeing Sandra Cantu’s mom on the Today Show hysterical over losing her little girl. I’m sure there is no pain like this, no matter if you are a rich celebrity or a mom in Tracy, CA. Losing a child must the worst feeling ever.
Ive been called an albert wesker since my aunt died of breast cancer last month. I went on with my life and for some reason it was a terrible thing to do. I didnt cry or say anything at all actually I just attended then went on my way. I’ve never mourned nor am I able to I guess. Even when my siser died when I was 8 or when I lost my best friend in a car crash we were in I never cried or anything I went back out and played or went back to martial arts. It was all very normal to me, I never felt like I was losing anything or anyone. I think I use pain in a way, like I live off of it rather than let it paralize me.
viper-i don’t know you,so what do i know,but you could also be in shut down mode,permanently. ie,the parasympathetic nervous system shuts down,if there is a traumatic situation that you cannot process,nervous system wise. [sympathetic nervous system illicits flight or fight responses;if those are not options in a situation,the extra adrenalin converts to shut down. ]And it’s also quite possible that you close off the aspect of yourself that is experiencing the trauma at the time,until a time when you can deal with it. happens all the time,cuz the body-mind organism is ingenious in it’s quest for survival. Only you know what role you chose to play for yoru family when your sister died at your young age. And whether or not you became numbed to death and mourning.
That said,can you emote joy or happiness? or is it just grief?
yea,it can be an ordinary transition,as well,for some people. i get that,esp. when you knew it was coming. but with tragedies and young people dying-i dont think not grieving is a natural process,at SOME point there will be some emotions stored away,that come out to play,or a person might get phsycially sick,such as arthritis,digestive issues,etc.
I am sorry for your loss, MSat. John and Kelly are fine people, and if their religion is helping them through this tragey, then surely it must have some merit.
No it doesn’t tigerlilie. There’s dealing with your grief in a constructive healing fashion that brings resolution through the belief in a higher power that cares for the faithful, and there’s hiding from it in the toxic co-dependency of ritual. This is the latter.
I guess everybody has different ways of grieving but it bugs me when celebrities do it in their best clothes on the front cover. Seems a little off, you know?
Sorry to MSat, and to the last person who posted, “!”,
one of the things I like about this site is that while we may bitch about celebrities, we try to be respectful to each other.
MSat – so sorry for your loss. Much love and sympathy.
Scientology is a cult NOT a religion.
Regardless of what other rude people on here have said, I am so sorry for your loss MSat. It is a horrible experience, and I am glad that you are able to talk about what you are going through.
As for the Travolta’s…. I think it is sad that Scientology has such an powerful hold on them. I was hoping that they would move away from the religion after their son died.
@!–I don’t know how cold and unfeeling any person would have to be to insult grieving parents–what an ugly excuse for a human being you must be!!
MSat–I am so sorry for your loss that is every parent’s nightmare.
As for the Travoltas, what I would like to know is HOW Scientology would help them grieve?? I don’t know much about it (beyond the basics), but if anyone knows more about it, I would really like to know what sort of “comfort” this quasi-religion/cult can offer in the face of such genuine and terrible tragedy? What would Scientology’s response be??
@MSat, I am so sorry to read of your recent loss of your baby. I only know that heartbreak through losing a grandchild, it’s unbearable. Stay strong, there are people on this site who are grieving along with you. xoxo
@!- Hey, Major Asshole, you would be feeling the sting of my open hand across your impudent face if I was in the same room with you. It must be hard to pull your foot out of your mouth when your head is so far up your ass.
Msat…I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I hope you find strength and support in your loved ones. i´ll keep your child in my thoughts.
@ ! : i am a nice person. but there´s a line and you´ve crossed it. i usually don´t insult people, but…FUCK you.
On a less serious note, is that supposed to hair on John’s head? It looks like Velcro or AstroTurf or something.
@Trashaddict–I wonder, though, if this is a recent picture (taken for the cover) or if they just pulled up an older picture of the two of them?
I’m not a Travolta fan, but I can’t see them posing for a magazine cover at this time.
People here are missing the bigger picture. Jett Travolta died because he was NOT on medication. Who doesn’t medicate their children when they suffer from frequent severe seizures?! Especially in a day and age where medicine is a reality and certainly easily affordable by these parents? Seizure medications fall into the anti-psychotic medication family. As Scientologists don’t believe in psychiatric drugs, particularly for children, he was denied the very thing that would have saved his life. Freedom of religion is a right guaranteed to us by the Constitution. However, Scientology isn’t a religion, it’s a cult. And these parents should be held accountable in the same fashion as any other parent who denies their child medical treatment.
@Zoe – A lot of religions prevent use of modern medicine. Some fundamentalist Christian groups bar non-natural medicines. The government is allowed to charge them with abuse/negligent homicide. Im guessing the fact that this happened over seas makes that impossible in the US. Plus Ive read conflicting reports about his sons mental capacity, so they would have to prove that he was mentally challenged. Plus it would be a huge PR nightmare for anyone that got involved.
And on a side note, I also believe that this has all been choreographed. Everything the CO$ does is choreographed.
Isnt it the Seventh Day Adventists who don’t allow blood transfusions or intrusive medical treatment. They are a religion, even if misguided, according to mainstram society. There is no one true way to show faith in a higher being and to provide a moral framework to live by.