Public Speech 'Too Soon' for Kelly Preston

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Aug 30th 2009 10:04AM

Kelly Preston is pulling out of the annual Women's Conference, where she was to break her silence about the death of her teenage son with John Travolta. The actress said in a statement Friday that she is "still deeply in the process of healing, and it's just too soon."

Preston was set to participate in a panel on grief at the annual event hosted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver.

Preston and Travolta, have kept low profiles since their 16-year-old son, Jett, died in January during a family vacation in the Bahamas. The teenager died of a seizure after years of poor health.

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The Jett Travolta Tragedy

Kelly Preston, seen here with her late son Jett and daughter Ella, was set to speak in October about dealing with the loss of her 16-year-old boy, but pulled out of the engagement.

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Tags: kelly preston, KellyPreston

Comments

(133)

Sunday 30 August

By frances

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to those who have lost a child..you have my thoughts and prayers....to those of you who are making these disgusting remarks....you are in real need of some therapy........there may come a day when you regret making such comments.....some of you may be too stupid to understand what your words do....but some others may someday understand.....all to well.....may God have mercy on your poor pathetic soul.

By Michael Cook

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We have all lost someone. Myself, I lost several family members in 2 years (both parents and in-laws). Move on, you have got to. Don't dwell on the loss., know it is still there but get up and go on with your lives.

Monday 31 August

By malle

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I think,its out of place loosing a parent its natural so,...but loosing a child is not,it is very
painful to loose family but you move on and remember them with love,and cry on bithdays,mother's or father's day ,but actually mourning for your child,has nothing to do with the level of pain that emptyness,only a mother can understand,you can wait to see them again,my daugther left to iran last year,to serve our country,and she is been close to dead couple of times.you have no idea how i feel when she does not call me for a month,and i can't call her everytime the phone rings ,I thing on 2 things may be is her,or maybe bad news,every day is tough,I see my self in the mirror from last year to this day I look 20 years older and only one yeaar has passed.

By MartiO.

MichaelCook,
I am sorry for the losses that you endured but to lose a parent ot in-law just does not compare to the loss of a child.It is a totally different grief that you do not just move on from.Also,to the people whom leave awful comments on here...I hope that you never do know the pain of losing a child..Something wouldn't wish upon anyone..

By Lacie

How dare you try to tell someone to "move on". They will when the time is right for THEM. Everyone grief in their own way and time. I lost my husband suddenly and he was only 48. Grieving has a path and time frame that is only for the person left behind. It's taking small steps. You may have 3 steps forward and then another back. The loss can be unfathomable and the pain is there. But I detest someone who tells me to "move on". Who are you to tell me if my grief is correct or not? You aren't. A month after he died I'm being told to "move on" and when will I take my wedding rings off. Those are none of your business. I do see I'm doing better and I'm thankful for that but you don't know what might be going on that plays a strong part in their life. The loss of a child is also extremely painful. I've been there and done that before many many years. Grief is grief and the pain can really make you feel like your heart is truly broken. People need a kind word, a hug or someone just saying they are praying .... kindness is what's so important. But a lot of you don't understand that word at all.

By laurac2468

PLEASE, give me strength. The travoltas could have/should have saved the life of their child by getting him proper medical care for his severe seizure disorder. At the time of his death, he had NO seizure medications in his system and they had turned his care over to the scientology cult. How is she ever going to justify that when they had all the money in the world to help him and failed him instead.

By tc

I feel so sorry for the Travoltas. It is an unbearable thing to lose a child.
However, anyone who has a child with a seizure disorder, knows that they should,at least, have a helmet on. There are so many medications that are available and could have been used.
I do not judge anyone. That is not up to me.
However, I can understand what the people with negative comments are thinking. There was no doubt that there was neglect to this child because of religious beliefs. I would have been charged with child neglect, had it been me. Thank God it was not me.

By kack

it amazes me that people think they should be "over it" and move on. i will say i can't stand it when celebrities b***h about their privacy, the poor me i need to have some me time and i can't do this or that without photographers and fans watching my every move. i totally agree they SHOULD give up their personal lives (when it comes to stupid stuff), the only reason they are who they are is because of the photographers and fans!! but i draw the line when it comes to personal tragedies like this. it is sick and ridiculous to expect them to share any personal info(other than basic info, he died and how)and there is NOTHING more annoying than people who act like they know these people personally!! it's stupid it's ridiculous and you losers really need to get a life, i'm embarrassed for you, you look like SUCH losers acting like they give a crap who you are or what you think!! i may read the gossip magazines, i may comment, but i would NEVER act like these people need to give me an explanation for anything like this!! the losers that make the sex tapes and complain or the sad sacks like jennifer anniston and her love life, that is innocent reading. but this is NONE OF ANYONES business!! she backed out too bad, good for her, she needs time to morn. maybe she won't even be ready 10 years from now!! THAT is her choice!! seriously, it amazes me that this is news, it does not require a story as to why!! COMMON SENSE tells why!!

I am sorry that you think we are all idiots. Your language and grammar leave a lot to be desired. With that said, it is a LEGAL obligation to give health care to your children. If you don't... it is called child NEGLECT. Now, what part of that don't you get?????

By Cheryl

I hope to never experience the loss of one of my children....I don't know how I would survive...John, Kelly & Ella...I hope that someday your pain will become more bearable but I know from living with the pain of losing my Dad that it never goes away...Jett was a beautiful boy...with a beautiful soul that lives through all of you each and every day. Take your time...take all the time in the world....we will be waiting for you with open arms when you're ready!

By Heidi

I honestly think that John and Kelly are dealing with enormous pressure to move on (especially through scientology) and they are realizing they can't, and they've perhaps started to question a religion/teaching that believe disease and emotion are a result of unreported internal conflict and sin (they don't call it sin but wrong thinking or wrong acting).
The speaking engagement was probably orchestrated by someone in the Scientology leadership who wanted to use that forum to talk about how to move on from grief and to subtly indicte that the teachings of scientology can assist the process.
I can't imagine the guilt that Kelly and John are feeling (guilt they shouldn't feel) because they are somehow letting their religion down by cancelling opportunities to speak such as this and John's recent press tour to promote a recent movie and aren't just able to audit this pain and shock and grief away.
Good for both of them to take the time they need.
I really hope they move away from it but who knows what dirt the leadership have on them.

By MARJUL

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE ON WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LOSE A CHILD, IT IS A HURT THAT PIERECES THROUGH TO YOUR VERY SOUL. A HURT THAT HAS NO BOTTOM, YOUR HEART BREAKS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO. THE GRIEF ONE FEELS IS LIKE YOU HAVE ENTERED INTO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF SADNESS AND DEPRESSION. IT IS A LONELY UNFORGIVING GRIEF AND WONT LET YOU GO WITHOUT HELP FROM ON HIGH. THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THAT DESPAIR IS TO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD, CRY TO HIM TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH THE EVERLASTING LOSS IN THIS EARTH REALM OF YOUR CHILD. BUT TAKE HEART GOD HAS GOT ALL BABIES. MY CHILD DIED WHEN SHE WAS STILL INSIDE MY WOMB MANY YEARS AGO AND STILL TODAY THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES ME COMFORT IS THAT I NO I WILL SEE MY CHILD AGAIN. I PRAY FOR ALL LADIES WHO HAVE LOSS CHILDREN ALL OVER THIS WORLD.

By Connie

Its hard losing a child and ppl want to be stupid about it, the only think I wish the Travolta family would fess up on is Jetts autism

By Fran

My heart goes out to the whole John Travolta family. It's always tough to lose someone in your own family, especially at such a young age. But if there is any consolation, it's comforting to know, according to the Bible, that those who have passed away in death are just taking a little nap, so to speak. They are asleep in death, and are not conscious of anything at all, experiencing no pain or troubles. They also have the hope of a resurrection to life on a paradise earth where there will be no more pain, sorrow, sickness, and even death will be put to death. So Jett has, without knowing it presently, the opportunity to come back to life on this earth (just as Jesus resurrected Lazarus back to life on earth when Lazarus was dead for 3/4 days, while Jesus was alive on earth), through God's kingdom or heavenly government, to the best possible conditions. In that case, Jett will never get sick again, and can be reunited with his family, John, Kelly and Ella Bleu, and any remaining family members, to enjoy the 'real life' they were meant to live since the beginning of mankind.

By kelli

My thoughts are still w/this family. Does not matter what you believe, pain is pain. Kelly may never feel like talking/opening up about her son. That is their business! People should mind their own business. My heart still goes out to them. I wish them peace and God Bless ~

By Jean Espinda

My son died in a car accident 8yrs. ago at the age of 29. It was a very sad time for us too. You feel as though you will never be happy again. Time heals somewhat but you always think of that person. I mean everyday. Through our belief in God, we have been able to go on. But I can't wait until we see him again. God Bless you John, Kelly and family. Hold each other a little tighter.

By Lee

I blame Kelly Preston, her husband and the cult of scientology for their sons death. What a brainwashing sick and twisted bunch of people who believe such crap as not to give certain medications which would have saved their sons life. They make me sick! I have no sympathy for the parents, only their son.

By J Sald

I just wish they would talk about his health issues without hiding the fact. He was obviously not a regular kid his age. I am trying to phrase this delicatly. It would help other people and families with the same medical condition.

By Barbara

John and Kelly lost thier beloved son so They deserve compassion . Children with seziures dont usually live as long as other kids.And Marylyn Monroe went to the scientology church too,it is very popular with stars for some reason,The loss of a child is the worse kind of heartbreak you could ever go through I hope it never happens again, There was a lady on the saops her name was hunter tilo Her son had seizure andHe drowned just last year, this is aserios condition

By jennifer

I respect privacy, but if they would have come public with the fact his was AUTISTIC it could have helped alot of other people, instead of portraying a perfect life. No one has it, unless they live in denial. Their friends knew it, family members knew it...why hide it from the public and blame it on cleaners/allergies?

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