Travolta Family Releases Statement About Son's Passing

John Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, released a statement on Preston's official website on Sunday.

We would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences.

Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives. We have received many messages of condolence from around the world and we want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. It has meant so much to us. It is a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit that gives us a hope for a brighter future.

With love,
John, Kelly and Ella

Various news services are reporting that an autopsy on John Travolta's son is expected to commence on Monday in the Bahamas. One of Travolta's attorneys told reporters that it's likely Jett Travolta's body will be flown back to Florida where he will be buried. His mother is actress Kelly Preston, who's been married to Travolta since 1991.

Jett Travolta, 16, had last been seen entering the bathroom on Thursday and had a history of seizures, Police Superintendent Basil Rahming said in a statement to the Associated Press.

A house caretaker found the teenager unconscious in a bathroom late Friday morning. He was taken by ambulance to a Freeport hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the statement said.

Jett apparently hit his head on the bathtub, said a police officer who declined to be named because she was not authorized to speak on the matter.

Jett Travolta suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island. 

John Travolta and family were vacationing in the Bahamas when son Jett passed away.

His body will be transferred to Ocala, Florida, for burial states a family spokesperson.

Jett's death "was completely out of the blue," Ossi stated Friday. "John and Kelly are happy when their children are happy. This is the worst day of John's life."

The Travoltas also have a daughter, Ella, 8.

Jett Travolta had a developmental disability that his parents, John Travolta and Kelly Preston, have linked to Kawasaki disease, an inflammatory disorder of the artery walls that most commonly occurs in young children and can lead to heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association, "About 80 percent of the people with Kawasaki disease are under age 5. Children over age 8 are rarely affected."

The causes of Kawasaki disease are unknown. Some scientists think it's caused by an infectious agent, such as a virus. Some studies have noted a link between the disease and carpet cleaning chemicals.

E! News Online is also reporting that there is no word yet on whether John Travolta has officially canceled his next scheduled public appearance.

Travolta is slated to appear on Jan. 11 at the 2009 Golden Globe Awards where his latest movie, Bolt, is nominated for best Animated Feature and best Original Song for his duet with co-star Miley Cyrus, "I Thought I Lost You."

John Travolta portrayed Edna Turnblad in the musical film adaptation of "Hairspray," bringing to the production a bevy of stage and screen credits including the big screen version of the long-running musical "Grease" and the wildly successful "Urban Cowboy."

Travolta is the recipient of two Academy Award nominations, including one for his turn in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction." He most recently starred in the comedy "Wild Hogs" and will next be seen opposite Robin Williams and wife Kelly Preston in "Old Dogs."

Photo Credit: Sara de Boer/Retna Ltd.

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