Travolta admits son's autism
2009-06-12 22:17
Los Angeles - John Travolta has admitted his late son was autistic.
The The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 actor - whose 16-year-old son Jett died after suffering a seizure while on a family holiday in the Bahamas in January - is a strict follower of the Scientology religion, which does not believe in the medical condition.
After Jett's death, it was claimed John and his wife Kelly Preston's refusal to accept their son's condition meant he was not taking medication.
"On Monday 29 December 2008 I travelled to Grand Bahama Island. I was accompanied by my wife Kelly Preston, my son Jett Travolta, my daughter Ella Travolta, Eli Wheaton, Jeff Kathrein and others.
“We stayed at town houses at Old Bahama bay, Grand Bahama. My son Jett suffered from a seizure disorder and he was autistic," read a police report taken from John in February, according to National Enquirer magazine.
Rare condition
Previously, John and Kelly had insisted Jett had Kawasaki disease - a rare condition which causes the inflammation of the vital organs and blood vessels - which occurs almost exclusively in infants and toddlers.
Although Jett suffered from convulsions, the illness also does not usually result in seizures and sufferers do not usually have it for years.
Scientology teaches that mental illness does not exist and teaches the problem should be resolved using "spiritual healing" rather than drugs.
After Jett's death, John and Kelly's lawyers Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott insisted Jett had received treatment for his convulsions, taking strong anti-seizure drug Depakote.
McDermott revealed Jett suffered seizures which were "like a death" every four days, but when he began taking the medication his fits reduced to once every three weeks.
However, the couple have claimed the medication stopped working and caused Jett health problems, so he stopped taking it.
Jett suffered health complications from an early age, and began having seizures as a toddler.
Kelly is said to have put him on a special diet based on the writings of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, which she claimed helped improve his health.