For years people have speculated that their son, Jett, was autistic, but the family always denied it.... blaming his disease on some sort of household chemical. I'm sure Travolta's silence had everything to do with his Scientology beliefs, but he really could have done wonders for autism awareness. I realize that they have their right to be private, but it's a shame that only after his son passes away that he admits the truth about his son being autistic.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

I'm torn on this one. I think there probably wasn't much to the theory that a household cleaner caused his autism, but the son did have a right to privacy. If they had publicized his autism when he was young, well... as an adult, that might have been personal information that Jett would not have wanted shared, particularly depending on how advanced/capable he became.

So... I wouldn't necessarily say he is now 'admitting the truth.' It's just that now, sadly, Jett won't grow up one day and wish that personal information wasn't 'out there'.

I was really shocked that he actually admitted/acknowledged it. From what I understand Scientology doesn't *believe in* Autism. I wonder if Tom Cruise will go on a rant against John Travolta now..............

I've been thinking the same thing. It's all a very sad story. I think there is such a thing as Kowaski disease, which I think is what they claimed he had, but he was also autistic by all accounts. It's nothing to be ashamed of so I've always figured it's his scientology beliefs that kept him from admitting it.
Yes, it is no ones business, but when you are in the public eye like that I'm afraid it's to be expected that people would be curious, want info on his son, etc...

I also read the story yesterday as well.For starters personally while everyone has the right to believe in their own religion that is fine for adults, but when it comes to children and their health and well being it stops right there. I for one always knew just from photos of Jett and how he acted and how his parents treated him and how he had to have nurses and full time care there was definitely something seriously wrong with him which was sad. Sad because for someone like John Travolta who has the means and funds and is so public could have brought so much more awareness to the condition and care and medical treatment for those children who are autistic. If he did indeed not seek help because of his loyality to his religion then that is so sad because again Jett could have been saved and treated. As far as Tom Cruise goes I lost interest in him long ago he has gone off the deep end with his beliefs and his religion. In the end I am happy that John Travolta decided to come forward and speak perhaps this is beginning and perhaps he may have second thoughts about his religion but who knows. In the end again bottom line no one person should ever bare the pain of seeing their child die in front of them there is no greater pain and for that alone I feel for them. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

Okay - this is what I think.... no one has the right to know what is going on in John Travolta's life or the life of his son - especially the life of his son. It is not his obligation to try to help the cause of autism. Before I get flamed, I am a fan of autism awareness, as my great-nephew is autistic. However, my niece has been forthcoming about the diagnosis and makes no secret of it. The only reason (from my understanding) that autism was actually mentioned was that he (John Travolta) was in a court of law discussing the details about his son's horrible death and the extortion charges surrounding it. I haven't read anything that leads me to believe that autistic children can be "saved" by admitting their disease and do believe that, by all accounts, he and Kelly Preston did everything possible to ensure that Jett had the best life and care he could possibly have. I'm not sure what opening their lives to speculation and question could have/would have done for Jett. As parents, I think that they should have the right to make those decision themselves. Quite frankly, I think it is highly unfortunate that they have been forced to put a label to Jett in their court proceedings (which, based on history, they did not want to do), which has quite probably opened them up to untold amounts of "you could have done so much for autism". Again, I think it goes back to THEIR choice and believe that they have the right to make choices for their own family. Anyway, only my humble opinion.

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Kim

I think there is always going to be a thin line between a public person and their private life. They did make their choice and that choice has led to speculation and rumors for years. I think the fact that many, many people think scientology is extremely bizarre, Tom Cruise had his anti med rampage, and here is John Travolta with a handicapped son which doesn't square with this religion. I think that's all part of it too-a "strange" religion, a famous person, a mysterious illness with a child, etc.... I think if this had come out and been accepted from an early age it wouldn't be as big of a deal as people speculating all these years about what's going on. Like Catherine said, being the stars they are, they could have done so much for autism awareness. But it's their choice and I respect that and my heart goes out to them.

No one has to do anything, celebrity or not. It isn't John Travolta's responsibility to become the face of autism or anything else. Here we go speculating again on so many levels. Isn't it Jenny McArthy who is outspoken, who has "done so much for autism awareness"?

Personally, there has to be more respect for people who try to keep their kids OUT of the limelight and raise them as quietly and normally (subject to interpretation when there are so many perks) as possible instead of parading them around like another adornment. Speculatoin, but maybe they chose to deal with this on a private level because that's how a family should, or because they didn't want the attention, or who knows.

I think it's possible and plausible many celebrities support causes in quiet, even anonymous ways. That, is what we don't know and again, an effort at doing something quietly and normally.

On to ripping brangelina for not beoming the face of the tooth fairy when the golden child lost her first tooth! There are other much more newsworthy things out there........

dl

Deddlastt, I understand what your saying just because he is a movie star and has fame and fortune and can reach many people and bring more awareness to the children who are autistic, your right, he did not have to get involved at all. Also just because he was famous his private life was just that his private life. However it is a fact about his religion that they do not reconize certain mental conditions therefore as a result keeping the parents from seeking medical help and in my personal views again when it comes to a child whether famous or not god help me my child religion or not would never ever ever stop me from getting the help or treatment my child deserves to at least try to live a normal life.I guess I look at the courage Micheal J. Fox had to talk about his illiness and to bring awareness like he does and to raise funds like he does, he is doing so much good for people who are effected with the illiness he suffers from , and its him I can only imagine if it was one of his children how much more Micheal J. Fox would do. Perhaps I feel differently but again as a mom I would do anything to help my child and would never ever hide behind the illiness and pretend like there is nothing in wrong and more then that make any religion make a decision for the health and well being and treatment of my child never ever. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

While you have basically repeated yourself from above, the one new component you brought up is that Michael J. Fox is an adult and thus, entitled to put himself out there in any way, shape, or form he chooses. An adult can do that to themselves. An adult's "right" to do that to a child is questionable, imo. We have no way of knowing how Michael J. Fox would have responded had it been one of his children instead of him....speculation again.

dl

I totally respect Travolta for not put his child in the spotlight. It is not every person who has a child with an illness to come out and tell everyone. In Travoltas position, it is much more he is in public, he signed up for that years ago. But his children did not. We do not have the right to expect him to let the world know what was wrong with his son. People are going to suspect what they want. I am sure that family and close friends always knew. He decided it was ok to say it now since his son has passed and because people just want to use a childs death to make money. He was not going to let that happen. Good for him. What ever the Travoltas motive was it is thier business, not up to us to judge or speculate on why or why not they did things. If it was thier religion .. so what, it seems that child got the best medical care no matter what they want to say he had.

I agree their religious beliefs are beyond weird, but I completely agree with those who have said that simply because the parents were famous, they had a responsibility to make their son a poster child for a cause.

Their first responsibility was to their son, and not to all autistic children everywhere.

Autistic children don't respond to the world around them, particularly other people, in a 'normal' way. Had they chosen to be 'out there' about his condition, what would that have led to? Going on Oprah and taking Jett along so people could 'see' how unusual he was? Would it have turned him into something of a circus sideshow?

Why even go down that road for a 'cause', particularly given their beliefs? The reason to raise awareness is typically tied to a desire to see funding go to drug research. If their family isn't all that enthused about modern meds, why would they let the world turn their son into a walking advertisement for the need for new and improved pharmaceuticals?

The disruption that would come with signing on to be the 'face' of a disease, the control you would lose over your child's privacy, the additional paparazzi that would show up wanting to get shots of your son... not to mention the fact that the very malady that made him a subject of interest is one that causes adverse reactions when they are socially put on the spot...

Who would want to sign their child up for that?

Exactly Deddlastt Adult Micheal J. FOx is a Adult and could speak for himself however Jett could not and for that as a mom who has dealt with a sick child with many several serious health issues from the day he was born my son Tommy I would never ever ever ever keep it quiet and pretend nothing is wrong whether I was famous or not. That is the problem with some of these high profile and famous people because they are in the spotlight all the time, sometimes sadly they do have to hide but their first concern should be their child, before they are famous they are a parent first and foremost and anyone whoever saw a photo of Jett knew there was something wrong. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

Cathrine, I don't know that they 'pretended nothing was wrong.' I think they just refused to discuss Jett with the media. There is a big difference there.

I think if any of us had lived life in the spotlight, we'd have a better idea of what it's like to lose your privacy, to be blackmailed and stalked and to have photographers that follow you everywhere.

I know you've mentioned your child having physical issues, but from what I have understood you to say is that they are related to his health (heart, maybe?) and not his personality. In the case of an autistic individual, the attention that would have been brought into his life by 'outing' him on a national scale could have adversely impacted him. I've worked with an autistic boy at church who is very high functioning in some regards, but he has meltdowns when the spotlight is on him and he feels like he is under scrutiny. He had created a lego sculpture to enter in a contest one time, and a lego fell off right before it was to be judged, and he was so overwhelmed that he went running from the room and it took quite a feat to get him to come out again. The whole 'I'm in public and everybody is expecting things of me' scene was very detrimental to his sense of peace that day.

I have to think that it's never a good idea to put an autistic child in a position to be the focus of lots of people and attention.... and that is exactly what would have happened to Jett Travolta.

With your son's issue (assuming my memory is correct about it being a heart condition), being in the public eye wouldn't exacerbate his condition. But a child with a cognitive disorder should never be put in a position that would cause him or her to have any sort of a setback... and I think going public could very well have put him in that position 24/7.

I also think they did not owe it to ANYONE to discuss his condition. And so what if you could look at a pic of him and see there was a problem with him. It's still their personal and private business. I would never in a million years want to throw a child of mine in the spotlight with any type of medical issues. Good for them for keeping it private.
JMTCW!
Jen

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Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
SJCC STREAKS FOOTBALL!!
CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL!

I'm confused. I thought that Scientologists don't believe in going to doctors (if I'm wrong on that one, someone please correct me). IF that is the case, how did this kid get the diagnosis of autism to begin with? It takes a lot of medical appointments to come to that diagnosis.

"Keeping quiet" doesn't always equate to "doing nothing".

"Keeping quiet" can easily mean, "The whole damn world doesn't have to know every single iota of my private business or my family's".

Being a celebrity means being in the spotlight, no doubt. But as paparazzi, media and the like have the right (obligation?) to report every fart in a windstorm on any given celebrity, any given celebrity has the right (obligation!) to keep private what they deem is necessary to keep private.

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Okay to Wowitsdark yes among many stomach and intestional medical issues my son Tommy was born with 3 heart defects 2 were surgically corrected and one aortic stenois he currently still lives with. Of course it is not the same as a mental health problem. But if we are going to talk about religion and if we are going to decide to talk or not to talk about our children then I assume its comes back to for some people black and white and no grey. Lets take for example perhaps John Travolta sons was born like my son was do you think he would have sort medical treatment do you think he would have went public and seek help and do you think he would have left it up to his religion to decide what was best. Again honestly John Travolta owed none of us anything, but for me as a parent he did not have to go public at all, all I am trying to say here ladies and all members now that he admitted his son Jett suffered from being autistic which was not recongized by his religion why then as a parent was religion more important, sorry again for sounding like a broken record . For again as a parent who has been to more doctors and hospitals and medications and procedures and surguries in the past almost 21 years I cannot wrap myself around at least doing all I can to help my child. The reports were that Kelly and John always believed that the condition their child suffered from was from household chemicals . In the end again no one ever whether famous or not should ever suffer the loss of their child heaven forbid... Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

He did not owe it to the world to talk about it at any time. We are not entitled to the personal info. on any child, famous or not!

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

John Travolta only had to answer to one person and no one else only for his son Jett and he could have helped him and no one had to know . Honestly if you really think he helped neither of his children have ever received any immunizations or boosters because it is againist their religion again you still think thats okay, go ahead say its their business, stop, once you become a parent, you lay you life down to save your childs life at any cost at least for me I cannot believe the comments here as anyone here who is a mother or a grandmother you rather ignore the problem then help????. I can say peace I am lost for words Jett did not have to die. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

I don't think the Travoltas ignored Jetts illness. It sounds to me like they didn't think the world needed to know their sons condition. I honestly feel that was their right. I think they loved Jett and I don't believe they would have ever done anything to harm him. They have worked hard for many years to keep both of their children out of the public eye, and I don't fault them for that. None of us really know what decisions they made in regards to his care, but from all that I have heard, they were wonderful, loving parents. I don't think it fair for us to judge them, without knowing the real facts!

Catherine, honestly, I have no idea what on earth you are talking about.

None of us have any clue how they addressed his condition within their family. It was said that when he was young they were so germ conscious that they had the carpets cleaned very frequently. When he started acting like something was not right, developmentally, they apparently had him checked repeatedly and came to the conclusion that he had Kawasaki disease... or syndrome... or whatever it's called. There was speculation within the medical (or homeopathic - not quite sure) community that the chemical in carpet cleaner caused that disease.

We have no idea what attempts they made to rid his body of toxins, etc. Personally, I think a lot of that is bunk, but what I'm trying to say is that it sounds like they did go to great lengths to find answers. Scientology is bizarre and I don't remotely subscribe to it, but it does sound like within the realm of their belief system - that natural products are best and manmade chemicals can do more harm than good, particularly given that they believed a chemical caused his malady, it seems to me like avoiding them would have been the route they would have pursued on his behalf.

Seriously - I think you are way out of line here.

Seriously?

Jett died because he had a seizure.
It wasn't because he wasn't ignored or his condition wasn't treated--even with treatment people can have seizures! I've had a seizure! And I certainly never lacked for medical treatment.
As to the whole vaccination issue: I'm very pro vaccine. However, I can understand certain rationales for not vaccinating.
HOW DARE YOU IMPLY or INSINUATE that just because a parent doesn't do what you think --especially on subjective issues-- they are bad parents!

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"God is great,
Beer is good, and people are crazy"

Wowitsdark I am not way out of line out of all and will defend myself over and over again because I speak with almost 21 years of experience of having a sick child who has had many serious life threathing health issues how dare you or anyone else say I speak out of line that is plain rude. If you have not dealth with a sick child then you should not speak, I can speak, my son was wisked away from me at birth being born blue and not breathing and put on a ventilator and at the age of 10 days old had open heart surgery, then at 9 months had angioplasty, then again at 2 years old and then at 6 years at heart surgery. Today thanks to god he lives with currently aortic stenois which is currently is seen by his cardiologist every 9 months to monitor his heart problem which at any time can cause him severe complications, the easy way to fix would be to attempt angioplasty, if not he would need and require open heart surgery and be fitted with a pigs aortic value and open heart surgery is major surgery. Keep in mind he also is lactose intolorent , has Ibs and also has cealic disease, . When Tommy gets sick he does not get sick like a normal person for instance this pass June he got the flu he fever was about 102 too 105 on and off for 6 days straight whole body aches and when he gets those high fevers his heart races and you can see his heart beating through his malformed chest, which happened as a result of his open heart surgery. I took of work all week to take care of my 20 year son, so do not tell me for one moment I am way out of line. I cannot believe we are all mothers here and yet still see these comments .Remember this is also the same Tom Cruise when he attacked Brooke Shields for her use of medication to help her after she had her second daughter and also how , he wanted his wife to have a painfree labor all getting back to the religion, so ladies where does it end. I am no professional but admitting that Jett was Autistic, did he not need to be on Medication??? and if he suffered from seizies sp... did he also not to be on medication which was he or not ??? does anyone have a answer to that.Because if I choose not to let my son have those operations and be treated and take his heart medications and his stomach medication and his preventive antibotics my son Tommy would not be here today.... Dear God , God Forbid. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

Lucy, you have no idea how many surgeries my children have been through. We've been through more diagnostic tests related to what they believed was an intemal (sp?) tear in one of my children's aorta prior to a major cardiothoracic surgery he had for a different congenital issue. I rode with one of my children in the ambulance as she was whisked away for what ultimately ended in brain surgery after a series of CT's and MRI's. And I have another child who has spent his fair share of time in the hospital thanks to asthma attacks.

Please do not presume I have no background in parenting children through medical crises. If they had had punch cards in the ER, we would have earned ten free visits.

Catherine.....do you have information that the rest of us don't have? Do you know that he was not on medication? Wow....please share with us all..

ETA: You said, "This is also the same Tom Cruise..." and then you mentioned the Brooke Shields incident.

Um. No.

We're talking about John Travolta, not Tom Cruise.

They belong to the same weird religion, but I do not recall John Travolta having the same attitude towards others that TC did.

Wowitsdark so I guess you understand perhaps a bit how I feel about having sick child I do not want to go tic for tat on who's child is sicker but I guess you assume the point I am trying to bring out here. I mentioned Tom Cruise because first it relates to John Travolta because they believe in the same religion and they both also believe in any any help when it comes to mental conditions so why is it a problem that I mentioned Tom Cruise what harm was caused honestly what harm??. Wowitsdark I asked the question before do you believe that when John Travolta and his wife Kelly were told of their sons Condtion with being autistic and that perhaps he needed to be put on some medication to help him do you think they accepted to declined please answer if you can or anyone else. I would sincerely appreciate it, as I said before I am not a professional on their religion . Peace. Catherine.

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

I have absolutely no knowledge about what they did or did not do for him. That's why I refuse to blast them and speak ill of them. They lost their son to a tragic condition and in the midst of his death scene, two people who were charged with helping save his life chose to blackmail them! What a horrible thing! How on earth anyone could choose to be nasty about them now is beyond me, but I guess life is about choices....

There is serious, credible disagreement about many of the things you mention. From antibiotics to immunizations, not everyone is convinced that they are BEST for their child. I personally am all for them, but knowing a number of devoted, intelligent, committed parents who have read the evidence about such things and come to different conclusions, no way could I ever say they were bad parents over - as marilyn said - a subjective issue.

I am sure they Travoltas did what they thought was best for him. You and I may disagree about whether it was best, but I can't imagine they were doing anything other than what they believed needed done.

So then Wowitsdark you do not agree with the religion, you agree with the shots, you know what its like to have a sick child, I never said anywhere that what the people on the their vacation Island home are doing to them is right , its wrong, I said all along in the end may no parent whether famous or not ever ever suffer the lost of child, then why are you being so harsh on me, at this point I have spoke enough and in the end on some issues we will end here on to agree to disagree and leave it at that . Peace. Catherine.

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

Lord help me! Do you realize how uneducated and illiterate you sound?
You just ramble and ramble and ramble w/ no clear thought process.

And this really has nothing to do with any particular subject or topic matter. You're like this regardless of what is being discussed. You would do yourself and those around you by using spell check, and learning basic punctuation.
yeah, yeah, yeah, I know! I don't have to read your posts. But they are like a train wreck, I can't look away once I'm sucked in.

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"God is great,
Beer is good, and people are crazy"

You know Marilynk honestly you have come to the boards lately with your personal problems and while me and you never really get along I offered you some truly heartfelt words and I truly truly mean't every word, and then you wrote you have found peace, but yet Marilyn here you are still with me , will not leave me alone and still instult me and comment about my grammar once again some things honestly never change, your so right, you do not have to read my posts, but you choose to, and you choose to comment, whatever, your choice. No where in any of these posts did you once say Catherine I am sorry to hear about your son Tommy that would have been nice and before you tell me I am playing the part and seeking sympathy please do not go there. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

see, that's what you don't understand. This is not personal.
I don't know half of what you say because you run everything together. I would love to be able to read your posts and have them make sense.

I'm sure you are a lovely human being. But, you put yourself out there for criticism.
I'm well aware that I posted my personal issues here. I was prepared for all responses, though. If people had come out and been negative or hateful, I was prepared for that. I was and am thankful for the supportive posts I received. And yes, you revel in playing the victim. You come here and blast a family on something that you don't even know to be true, but when people try to converse with you? You start whining. Geez! Grow up woman!

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"God is great,
Beer is good, and people are crazy"

Marilyn for me it is personal , the subject John Travolta I do not know him from a hole in the wall, however , the post I can relate to because we are talking about a sick child I have a sick child so for me it is personal why do you always have to tell me to grow up , does that statement not sound silly to you to even speak, especially after I just wrote all I have gone through with all my sons Medical conditions and you want me to grow up. I do not know Marilyn perhaps you are still bitter from your personal problems if not then I am sorry , however your right we are strangers we only know each other here on the boards and as it stands now its not fair this has gone on way too long and way off topic . If I ramble on I am sorry , sorry for speaking too long, but not sorry for speaking about something that is dear to my heart being a parent and and more important being a parent to a sick child and offering the best medical treatment I could and always will. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

Everybody chill!! I think because of Travoltas religion there are all kinds of unanswered questions. Tom Cruise made his remarks as to what he and scientology think about psychotropic meds. Because John and Kelly are devout believers and because their psuedo religion seems to have beliefs that illness is related to your spiritual health there are going to be tons of questions out there about what they did and didn't do medically for their son. I don't think that's unfair or out of line to wonder. Most of us are very protective and proactive where our childrens health is concerned so it's difficult to ever even imagine someone not doing everything they can for their children. We know Jett had issues and seizures so it's a question what their religion allows and doesn't allow. It's human nature to wonder about how they handled Jetts illness/disorder given the scientology circumstances.

There are many actors with children who are or have been ill. However, as for public knowledge, they aren't affiliated with such an anti-medicine type religion or we might be hearing and wondering about them too.

Oh, I haven't laughed so hard in days! Bitter from my personal problems? Because I commented on your atrocious grammar, I'm bitter? Oh my hell that is funny.

To the best of my knowledge, Autism does not necessarily require medication(s). Seizure disorders usually do. And I do remember reading that the Travoltas did have Jett on anti-seizure meds for several years. But, anti-convulsants/seizure meds can have some nasty side effects (as do a lot of meds). So, simply it could have come down to a quality of life issue.
And even with meds, people have seizures all the time. Seizures can be brought on, in healthy people, by illness, increased body temperature (high fever), or dehydration. People who have underlying health issues can be more susceptible to seizures and complications from seizures. AND--should a person hit their head while having a seizure, or stop breathing they may suffer a traumatic brain injury, which could lead to death. One could surmise that no one really knows what went on in the Travolta home, and shouldn't judge too quickly.

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"God is great,
Beer is good, and people are crazy"

I really have to agree here. Also wanted to say that the funny thing is....many still believe that it is one of those "shots" that causes autism! Besides, none of us have any clue as to how they treated his condition. It is awful to say things like some are saying after how much they have already suffered.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

marilynk - why do you post to Catherines entries? We all know she can ramble, get excited etc... SO WHAT? Somehow it's just horrible for people to judge the Travoltas on here but not fellow posters. I think people are asking more questions about the Travoltas than judging them. Why can't you just ignore her if she bugs you so much? She has as much right to post her ramblings on here as you do.

I actually did know a girl whose autism was caused by immunizations. She was one of the very few, very rare cases that they could prove without a doubt was linked to the shots. It was really a case of malpractice on someone's part, though I don't know that anyone sued. She was extremely premature - ten weeks or so - and she was give immunizations on schedule rather than on a schedule that took into account when she should have been born. Despite her prematurity, she was developing appropriately and then at about the age of two months, she received an immunization (not sure what one) and had a seizure very soon after - I don't recall the details, but it may have even been during the shot or before she left the dr's office.

She received money from some special fund that the pharmaceutical companies have to fund that is for the very few children whose problem is proven to be caused by those shots.

But... this is very, very, very rare, from what I understand.

*sigh*
I've tried. And sometimes I succeed.
I am not necessarily judging her. In fact I believe that she is probably a good person, a person who loves her family and is passionate in her beliefs.
But....I don't know because her posts are so disjointed. One great big run-on sentence does not convey her message well.
Perhaps, I want to be able to understand what she's trying to say.
Perhaps, I would like for her to be able to represent herself better. If I were to consistently sound like I was an uneducated or illiterate individual, I would certainly want someone to say something.

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"God is great,
Beer is good, and people are crazy"

Marilyn for the 1,000000 time please please stop complaining about my grammar I am not uneducated, I will admit with all full honesty and take full responsibilty that when I am passionate about a subject, hence the one we are speaking about now. I do have a tendency to ramble on and talk and talk and talk alot that is the truth and the whole and nothing but the truth. But Marilyn is that such a bad thing honestly compared to more serious issues in our lives??. Are we not here at the cafe to help each other to offer each other moral support to vent, to scream, to laugh, to discuss, to disagree.. Are we human , will we make mistake, yes we all will , no one person here is perfect. If you do not know by now I am a very nervous person by nature and when certain subjects arise , they affect me emtionally and you can tell by my writing how it effects me, but that is what makes me Catherine. Just like Kts is about her religion and we all know by now how most feel about politics lol. Anyway for the most part ususally I will just make small remarks unless its a subject that hits my heart and soul otherwise I honestly try to keep it pretty simple. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

may I just suggest Catherine, that before you push "submit" you try reading one of your posts out loud? That might help.

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Melissa

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak argument.

Great suggestion, mom.

A better one might be to have someone else read it aloud for you.

Cathrine, that is not intended to be mean. I just think it would be enlightening and you might see why your posting style often puts you in the firing zone.

And Kathy, while I agree that there will be speculation - and I'd even be up for debating the weirdness of their religion - I think it's over the top to accuse them of not getting him any sort of care and essentially saying they didn't love him because they didn't do what Catherine would have done, medically.

Ok, I'm not the only one that was left wondering about this too. By one or two folks posts, it sounds like it's common knowledge to them that the Travolta's did nothing to help their son, no medications, no treatments, etc.

Is that an accurate statement, or just a big fat ol' guess?

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I think there are alot of assumptions going on.

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Melissa

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak argument.

Maybe I missed a post where she out and out accused them of neglect. But I guess it's her opinion and people can take it or leave it. She's certainly not the only one out there who wonders what the heck their religion believes and if it doesn't believe in medical answers to problems I can see where someone might draw that conclusion. I believe they love(d) their kids wholeheartedly. That being said, it doesn't assure they made the best choices. I guess we will never know. I wonder what Tom Cruise would think/do if little Surey (sp) had mental illness?

Kts I mentioned Tom Cruise and the whole Mental Issue with Brooke Shields I do not think he would like it at all, he also wanted his wife Katie to have a silent quiet birth and no pain medication so I think that answers your questions. Peace. Catherine

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in memory of my beloved beautiful brother Sonny who is now an angel in heaven

several reports indicated that Jett was or had been taking Depakote for seizures. Depakote is only available w/ a Dr.'s prescription.
Maybe some of the parents here, who actually have children w/ Autism can enlighten us as to what medications an autistic child requires. I'm betting, autism much like other conditions, does not necessarily require specific medication. A child may have other health conditions in conjection w/ autism that requires meds, but it's not the autism that requires the meds. Now, I very well could be wrong. My only experience w/ autism is the young man that was a patient in a facility where I worked who had been diagnosed w/ Aspergers. He didn't require medication for the Asperger's.

Further, any one who has been on a long term med like Depakote knows a couple of things: 1) the medication can become ineffective requiring larger and larger doses, 2) the larger the dose (and the longer you take it) the more likely to develop side-effects. If memory serves correct long term usage of Depakote can lead to uncontrollable "tics". Now, some children who have been diagnosed in the Autism have "tics" because of the Autism. So, the med that can help w/ seizure, can make the Autism worse. It's a quality of life issue.
If you've ever seen any pictures of the Travoltas, the love for their children is palpable!

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"God is great,
Beer is good, and people are crazy"

Marilyn, as far as I know. What you said about the meds is correct.

I in no way defend Scientology and do not understand how any thinking, reasonable person could believe it. But I agree that for all that I've ever seen or heard, the Travolta's dearly loved this boy and did what they believed was best...WHICH does not seem to include denying him reasonable medical care.

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Melissa

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak argument.

As the mother of a child with Aspergers I can tell you that the most common meds prescribed to people with Aspergers and high functioning Autism are anti-depressants. People with Aspergers/HFA also benefit greatly from therapy with a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

I think a lot of people are assuming that the Travoltas would have chosen not to treat Jett's Autism due to the fact that Scientology does not believe Autism exsists and are strongly (one could almost say bitterly) set against all things psychiatric (including meds).

Of course, none of us knows if he ever received treatment for his Autism. I think the reason this is such a hot button issue is due to the difficult line between a parent's right to choose whether or not to seek treatment for their child and the very tragic cases of children who die because their parent's religion told them if they prayed hard enough their child's diabetes (for instance) would be cured.

In the case of Jett Travolta, from what has been reported, he was being treated for the condition (seizures) from which he died.

Marilynk,
I'm one of those parents you are speaking of, while I will not go into full details about what meds my son takes, I will go as far to say he also takes Depakote 2000 MG daily along with 7 different meds for a total of 13 pills daily. I know I speak for many moms and dads when I say this, Unless you( general you ) have a child with Autism you will never know all the details that comes with it.It's not an easy thing to say to medicate nor is it a easy choice to say don't medicate., It all depends of what the side effects are. you have to weigh in the benefits vs the side effects. While medication is a great tool- resource for children like my son it has been known to also take the very life it was suppose to be helping.... With that said, With Depakote you have to have a liver test done every 4- 6 months depending on the MG. My son has to have lab work done every 4 months since he takes 2000 Mgs a day.
My son also has tics, but they are not due form taking the Depakote. He has tics with-out the Depakote. He also has tourettes. Now one of the RX he takes causes the tics to be come worse, so he has to take a 2nd RX to control them. It's not easy to know which meds will best benefit your child theres a lot of trial and error in this *cocktail* mixture of Rx's. And believe me when you are unlucky to be given a RX that worsens the problem that its suppose to be helping theres a LOT of doubt that will make you want to never give your child another pill ever again. I know this all too well when it happen to us 3 years ago with a medication called foclian ( spelling).For the 1st time I thought my son was going to die and so did the team of doctors that were trying everything to reverse the foclian. The doctor that gave my son this medication had been his doctor for 2 years and I guess he over looked a few of the things why he shouldn't have been given this med. the main ones being this

Why should Focalin not be prescribed?
Focalin should not be used by people who suffer from anxiety, tension, and agitation, since the drug may aggravate these symptoms.

If Focalin, or similar drugs such as methylphenidate, cause an allergic reaction, the drug should be avoided. It should not be taken by anyone with the eye condition known as glaucoma. It should also be avoided by anyone who suffers from motion tics (repeated, uncontrollable twitches) or verbal tics (uncontrollable repetition of words or sounds), or someone who suffers from, or has a family history of, Tourette's syndrome (severe and multiple tics).
Focalin should not be taken with drugs classified as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as the antidepressants phenelzine and tranylcypromine, or within 14 days of stopping this type of medication.

The use of Focalin by anyone with a seizure disorder or psychosis (abnormal thinking and hallucinations) is not recommended. Caution is also advisable for anyone with a history of emotional instability or substance abuse, due to the danger of addiction. Focalin should not be used for the prevention or treatment of normal fatigue, nor should it be used for the treatment of severe depression.

Why he is NO LONGER our doctor. I changed doctors the same night while in the hospital waiting to see what the out come was going to be form this med.