Travoltas Use Family, Religion and Therapy to Cope With Jett's Death

By Dino Sossi Posted Nov 9th 2009 01:45PM

The long road to emotional recovery has been a difficult process for the Travolta family after the tragic loss of their son but they are improving.

"We've been working very hard every day as a family to heal," said John Travolta in his first interview (with USA Today) since his son Jett's death. "We partake in spiritual counseling pretty much daily," said his wife Kelly Preston. Jett Travolta died after a seizure at the family home on Grand Bahama island in January. He was 16.

The family has re-introduced itself to the spotlight in promotion of daughter Ella Bleu's new movie. 'Old Dogs,' a comedy scheduled for release on November 25th, will be her feature-film debut. "We decided it was OK to come out and promote, to introduce her to the world and to give her a beautiful future in film," said Travolta. "We have our own way of doing it, and it has been helping," he added.

"It's a tricky thing. Sometimes, something that's right for the moment is not right the next day," said Preston. "Being with people who are important to you, being with people that you love, I think that's what has primarily helped us the most. Sometimes, being alone, too," she revealed.

Travolta revealed that coping with his beloved son's death is a daily struggle. His wife added that the "outpouring of love from, really, worldwide has been extraordinary. It's been our friends, our family, our church."

The painful loss has been worsened by a legal case involving a paramedic and Bahamian senator who stand accused of extorting $25 million from the Travoltas with information about Jett's death. The original case ended in mistrial last month and a retrial has been ordered. Neither Travolta nor Preston gave comment.

Hollywood A-listers have lent the grieving family emotional support. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry, that a lot of people have been thinking about them," said Denzel Washington. "Above everything else, John is a family man," he added. Washington and Travolta starred in 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3' this summer. "You need your friends a lot in times like that," John said thankfully.

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Comments

(31)

Monday 09 November

By Lori

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My heart goes out to the entire family, I could not imagine or do I want to even think about the loss of your child. Ella, congrats on you film debut I won't miss it. : )

By ericnorthman

my heart does go out to them, but geez, where was lord xenu to help his boy in a such a time of need. must have been busy doing what alien leaders of people on earth do. Scientology and religions in general are ignorance

Tuesday 10 November

By jollly gin

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Eric: God works in mysterious ways. I do not know much about scientology (sp?) but religion (people who believe in God, our maker) is not ignorance. I am so sorry for the Travolta's loss. I think they are dealing with it the best way they can.

By Dond

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I lost my beloved, only, son. When you lose a child, you don't get a scar, you get a scab, and every now and then it gets torn off, you bleed and another scar forms. Then one day you see a litle boy playing in the sand, and the scab gets ripped off and the process starts all over again.

By aurorab

i like the travoltas and it is sad that they lost there son but the fact of the matter is that they let scientology dictate to them how to handle their son's medical issues and when it comes to a child's health and well being a parent should use their common sense and do anything medically possible to keep their child healthy and safe whoever created this world gave us the ability to learn how to take care of ourselves-gave human beings the ability to learn how to treat illness and injury so that we as a species would be able to survive.any religion that tells people not to properly treat children or anyone else for that matter with a life threatening illness is not a religion at all .it's a cult the only way the travolta's are truly going to heal is if they get the hell outta that cult and use their own common sense and their own minds to determine what is right for their family

By jw

But remember if he leaves Scientology now, he'd be admitting it was part of the cause of his son's death (if not to himself, then to the world watching). Staying in is easier right now. He can feel his involvement had nothing to do with it. Well... that and Scientology probably has a ton of dirt on him they'd never hesitate to absolutely destroy him with if he left.

Wednesday 11 November

By ted

aurorab: u are right they should have been giving him his med's,I am very sorry for their loss but also very dissappointed when I found out he joined that cult

By jiyabird

Too bad they lost a son but personally I am getting sick of hearing about it. They are not the only ones to have lost a loved one..I lost my husband and I have had to learn to grieve alone without my familys support because of personal problems. Everyone has some cross to bear-this is theirs. The press is certainly not concerned with my pain.

By claudia

Hi,

Read your comment and was touched. If you ever want to talk or just need a "pen pal" e-mail me. My name is Claudia

By Hmmmm

It is a tragedy, BUT... where is the outcry for them refusing their son medicine that could have helped him? Parents that refused Diabetes treatment for their daughter, trusting GOD are serving prison sentences. DOUBLE STANDARDS!!!

By Muntsinger

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Jett looks so much like John, and I feel for the endless pain that John goes through. If John really would like to find closure in regards to his son, and bring peace, harmony and happiness back to his family, he needs to contact me. For 30 years I've known an incredible psychic who has never been wrong in any prediction to this date.
John, here is your golden opportunity. 562-597-0675

By rex

the travoltas should take the bulk of the blame for their childs death. they made the decisions that cost that young boy his life. though they are not legally at fault because they can lay it off on freedom of religion choice.
mr. travolta and his wife should own up to their responsibility and admit it. i hope they can sleep well at night. i guess it was gods decision

By Andi

I really feel sorry for this family and I worry about them relying on that cult. They won't help them, they'll use their need for help to bilk them of thousands (maybe millions) of dollars.

By carol

I don't agree with their religion, but I'm truly sorry for their lost. I too have a son with a disability. I had 2 miscarriages and a stillborne girl before I had my son.

By Dean

How much more publicity do the Travoltas want out of this? Enough already.

By Hanford Searl Jr.

... RELIGION?!? LMAO!!!

By Jolly Gin

I will pray for you. God loves you.

Saturday 21 November

By Tina

True Religion is man made ....Spirituality is a whole different ball of wax. Try it...you do not have to pray to icon...just talk with yourself..talk with a higher power. That is what Spirituality is about. He or she hears your every word without attending to a gathering...just to them. You will do just fine.

By Min

Well, whatever aids in the healing process. People are free to believe in whatever satisfies them, no matter how absurd it seems to a lot of other people. In my case, like millions of other people, I'm an atheist. I was raised a catholic and endured all the mental abuse that catholic schools are well known for inflicting on innocent children. As an atheist when a tragic moment surfaces in our lives, we don't rely on spiritual crutches to carry us along. We just have to come to terms and accept the sad moments that life issues us. With the support of friends and family or even a good therapist we non-believers can survive too.

By frenchblue367

Min, I'm with ya 100%. Same background, same philosphy. Catholicism did nothing but make me feel guilty for enjoying life, and meanwhile the priests were molesting my male schoolmates behind the altar, but hush-hush, no one can talk about that... I take what life deals to me, I roll with it the best I can, and get on with it. "God" abandons people when they need 'HIM' most...

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