Apr 9, 2009

Travoltas Still Coping with Jett's Death

(April 9) - 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 newsstands April 10.)
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John Travolta and Kelly Preston cover the new issue of PEOPLE Magazine (on newsstands April 10.) Friends and family discuss how the Travolta's are coping with the tragic loss of their son and finding faith to stay strong.

Travolta Family Tragedy

    John Travolta and Kelly Preston cover the new issue of PEOPLE Magazine (on newsstands April 10.)

    PEOPLE Magazine

    Jett Travolta, son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, died suddenly on Friday after falling the bathroom and hitting his head. An autopsy concluded that Jett died of a seizure.

    KCSPresse, Splash News

    Jett, shown here in 2004 with his father, collapsed at the family's vacation home and was discovered by the Travolta's nanny.

    ShowBizIreland / Getty Images

    The entrance of John Travolta's vacation home is shown at West End, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas.

    Alan Diaz, AP

    Jett was taken by ambulance to Rand Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Jan. 2.

    Tim Aylen, AP

    John Travolta's attorneys Michael Ossi, left, and Michael McDermott talk to reporters at West End, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. Of the tragedy, Ossi spoke of Travolta's heartbreak. "He never dreamed of this

    Alan Diaz, AP

    The 16-year-old's death has affected many. Speaking of Travolta's relationship with his son, Bahamian parliament member Obie Wilchcombe told Larry King, "He always brought him along. There was a close affectionate relationship and lots of love. People in the old Bahama community today are in shock."

    Tom O'Donnell, WireImage

    Travolta and Preston had revealed that their son became sick when he was 2, and was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, an illness that leads to inflammation of the blood vessels in young children.

    Michael A. Mariant, AP

    Both parents blamed his diagnosis on household cleaners, and used Scientology's detoxification program to improve their son's health. "I was obsessive about his space being cleaned. We constantly had the carpets cleaned," Travolta said in a 2001 interview.

    Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage

    Preston and Travolta also have a daughter named Ella.

    Steve Granitz, WireImage

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.