Travolta Death Cert Lists Seizure

241. No, people don't always die from seizures, but there are other issues assoicated with the seizure that can be fatal. And there are cases of people dying from the seizure, not as common, but it does happen. Jett may have died from choking on his own vomit, and was not attended to in time. I am not placing blame, that can happen very fast. I was watching Nancy Grace tonight and they were interviewing some doctor who was saying that that is unlikely. Well, that was not right of the doctor to say that, because it does happen. And although not as often, if you consider someone who has seizures every week, the risk goes up. It is sad, and I think people just need to learn from this and stop blaming and insulting the family. I do think Scientology is strange and I cannot support their belief that meds should not be used to treat conditions.

Posted at 12:04AM on Jan 6th 2009 by objectivity

242. For Right here Right Now...a few responses to your comments:

"There is a lot of speculation about whether Jett was on drugs or not and actually he was on anti-seizure medication for 4 years until it did severe damage to his liver, which can kill you if not corrected immediately." - Actually, Depakote can hurt the liver, thus the liver enzyme tests. I know, I've had them done for 20+ years. No liver damage here. But if there was, they would switch my medication, such as in the case as when I got pregnant. Can't take Depakote and be pregnant, so I had to go off of it SLOWLY, and switch to a new med in the process.
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"The medication stopped working also so with doctor's advice he stopped taking it from some reports. " No doctor in their right mind, and with a valid license, would have a child stop taking anti-seizure medications. It is too harmful to the child to suffer such neurological damage from each seizure.
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"Anti-seizure medications also have severe side effects which even include suicidal thoughts so be warned if you take anti-seizure medicine." Again, they have SIDE EFFECTS, not severe side effects. Read up on Depakote, also known as Valproic Acid, before you make a statement like that. Oh, and btw, all drugs have side effects, it's how we work with our doctors that make them work.
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"Anti-seizure medicine is not a cure and only works some of the time and doesn't work for everyone." Anti-seizure medication might not be a cure, but it sure did stop Jett's seizures for quite some time there. As the attorney's were saying, each seizure was like death. How can you not find another anti-seizure med?
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"Jett did not die of autism so I'm scratching my head why this is even being discussed." Although I believe it's the parents right to tell if he was autistic or not, people are discussing it because the same parents are accusing us of bad parenting for taking drugs or giving ADHD drugs to our kids.
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"According to Entertainment Tonight, their church does not tell their parishioners not to take medicine so any reports like this are false and defamatory." I am sure you are a Scientologist, so you know that the only "medications" any Scientologist can take is vitamins. Just check out http://www.whyaretheydead.net/room758.html.
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"I can't imagine what it's like for a parent to lose such a young person." This death was tragic, and my heart breaks for the parents, but I'm more heartbroken for the little sister who lost her brother, and for Jett, who had no control of his own destiny.
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"Jett seemed to be a total sweetheart who came from a very loving family who would do anything for him." You speak as though you knew him.
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"I'm sure the Travolta family appreciates all the kind words and thoughts that they are getting right now and I'm glad to see it here on TMZ." Glad you're passing them along

Posted at 12:07AM on Jan 6th 2009 by yourkidding

243. I'd like to know which it is. In one sentence TMZ says he was cremated in the Bahamas, and in the same article it says his body is being transported to Florida. Which is it? Find it strange that he would suddenly be cremated.

Posted at 12:09AM on Jan 6th 2009 by itstrue

244. Chuck stop making me laugh, I'm trying to be angry here!

Posted at 12:09AM on Jan 6th 2009 by Freaks

245. TMZ has a new updated thread on this subject...they are on the ball!

Posted at 12:23AM on Jan 6th 2009 by GA

246. Sorry for your loss I will pray for you and your family.

Posted at 11:16AM on Jan 6th 2009 by Helen Martin

247. ENOUGH already TMZ.

Posted at 4:24AM on Jan 6th 2009 by Lulu1967

248. I CANNOT BELIEVE HE DIED OF SEIZURE DISORDER... BUT AGAIN *** SCIENTOLOGY ** WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO CONSUME ANY OTHER DRUGS FOR MENTAL OR KAWASAWI SIGNORE... WHAT A SHAME SCIENTOLOGY... A 16 YEAR OLD DIED BECAUSE OF YOU..............(SCIENTOLOGY)............ MY GOODNESS, YOUR RULES NEEDS TO BE CHANGED....

NOWMR. AND MRS. TRAVOLTA AND THEIR DAUGHTER MUST DEAL WITH A DEATH OF A 16 YR OLD SON BECAUSE OF YOUR RULES.... SHAME.............SHAME......................SHAME

Posted at 12:40PM on Jan 6th 2009 by Shirliana

249. ****************** parental stupidity************************* BOTTOM LINE...........................

Posted at 12:39PM on Jan 6th 2009 by Shirliana

250. cremation in such a hurry? Is that the Scientology way? Hmmmmmm

Jen Newman

Posted at 9:19AM on Jan 6th 2009 by jen newman

251. 236. too 229 seizers cause death oh really?i dont hear about any deaths from seizers ever on the news and with millions of people living with them with medications u people with your dumbass comments lol

Posted at 12:07AM on Jan 6th 2009 by steve

Response to Steve: Yes, there are unfortunate people whose seizure are not controlled by either medication or brain stimulation therapy. I just did an autopsy on a young person with refractory epilepsy who was also found dead after hitting their head in the bathroom. There were early slight ischemic changes in the brain, but beyond that everything was grossly and histologically unremarkable. Unfortunately, medication and a brain stimulator did not work. Needless to say, the final autopsy diagnosis had a lot of clinical information in it and little autopsy findings. However, I ended up writing a seven page clinical pathological correlation. So, yes, people do die from these events, and, yes, like most deaths, do not make the news... You are right though, the most common cause of death in people with seizures disorders is not the seizure; usually a co-morbidity factor. If these people do die from a seizure related event, it is usually a result an associated trauma as a result (i.e. seizure while driving). The subset that dies from the event itself, either hadn't taken medication, or were in a refractory event.

Posted at 9:46AM on Jan 6th 2009 by Maelio

252. "Just Wondering" - Autism is NOT a mental illness. Autism is a developmental disability. Big difference. I'm glad you're not my nurse. Maybe you should study more.

Posted at 9:47AM on Jan 6th 2009 by schmuzie

253. I believe that people who are saying you CAN'T die from a seizure have never experinced one or been around someone who has. Seizures do so many different things to your body. I was always told to stick something in there mouth to prevent them from swallowing there tongue. It is physically impossible to swallow your tongue. It goes back & clogs your airway so you choke or can't breathe. During my seizures I now my husband has said I am clinching my teeth & jaws so hard you can't even open my mouth. They just turn me on my side so I don't choke. Yes their usually is blood coming out of your mouth because you bite your cheeks & tongue. I sucked my bottom lip in so hard that I had bruising on the inside & the outside of my mouth that resembled my bottom teeth. So to the people who think they know all about seizures & the causes for them & how it is impossible for them to die then I want you to treat me so I don't have to live with this anymore. I do take my meds everyday like I'm suppose to but that sometimes isn't enough. Oh & for the person who said that chemicals & fertilizers is not the cause of seizures I would like to see your research. I worked in a factory for nine years & I was exposed to all sorts of harmfule chemicals. I found out one thing we were using was made of freon the stuff they use in your ac on your cars. There was no sort of ventilation for us that worked there & there have been so many health problems with people working there. They are now out of business but I didn't realize the harm I was putting myself through working in the conditions I worked in. After all the doctors I have seen I have had no trauma to my head, no bleeding on my brain & no tumor so they believed it was all the chemicals I was exposed to. I just about everybody I have talked to believed it to. Oh & for the person who thought it was disturbing to think that I drive a short distance when I say that I'm talking like 7 miles. What am I suppose to do live in a bubble? I do take percautions if I do drive. I know the windshield wipers bother me so I won't drive. Late night driving me so I don't drive. I don't EVER want to put anyone else or myself & my kids in danger by driving so I do take the percautions I need. Believe me I do think of that. Maybe you didn't see where I spent 12 hours in jail for drinking & driving & drugs because I was coming out of it & they thought I was lying. So now I have a piece of paper that I carry with me so it says if I appear intoxicated that I have a medical condition. That doesn't mean I can get away with drinking & driving it just means I won't have to spend another humilating 12 hours in jail for something that I did not do. Police officers in my town now are being trained better on how to maybe check for a medical condition before jumping right in to arresting you. I was arrested in 4 mins. the cop was actually pi***d when he gave me 3 breathalizer tests & they all came back .000. I wear a medic alert bracelet so if something does happen when I am by myself they can see my condition, what meds I'm on & what meds I'm allergic to. So I DO try to take percautions from hurting anybody while I may have a seizure. When you have doctors tell you as long as you take this medication you will never have another one you believe them & go on living your life. From experience though I have had doctor's tell me that 5 times & still have a seizure. So medication my help or it may not it just depends on you. People react differently to medications they take. What may be a side effect for me not be a side effect for another person. So until you know your facts I think you should just keep your opinions to yourself about seizures not killing. You are right you don't always hear about other people dying from a seizure but they are not famous people or the children of famous people. The death notice in the paper doesn't say what the person dies of. If they know the person then they will know what they died from. From reading several different people saying they have had a loved one die from a seizure you would think you would have a open mind & maybe think well yes that is possible. With the internet now you can do all kinds of research on different medical conditions & medicines. Believe my I have spent hours looking up things & find things the doctors haven't told me but I will ask & they will say yes that is possible. You just need to let this family grieve in peace. I'm just getting furious with some of these people who say they know it's impossible to die from a seizure or he had one from not taking his meds or if the parents decide not to give it to them because of the side effects. I believe they loved their son so much they wouldn't just take him off one & not put him on another. Yes it could be possible but as a parent I don't think I could let a religion make decisions about taking care of my child. I don't know because I don't belong to any religion like that. Just let this family grieve in peace & if it is their fault because they took him off the meds then they will have to live with that the rest of their lives. Then if their daughter should have some medical condition maybe they would think twice about not giving her medication that will help her.

Posted at 10:04AM on Jan 6th 2009 by Jovi Fan

254. As an avowed atheist, I am constantly amazed at the stupidity and intolerance put forth in the name of "God" or religion. A young boy died. This is tragic and sad. What many of you don't realize is that humans created god ( or whatever name you want to apply), as a way to better cope with the things in the universe around them that they could not explain. In the history of mankind, religion or religious conflicts have resulted in innumerable instances of death and human suffering. Remember the Crusades, The Holocaust, The Spanish Inquisition, the Wars in Northern Ireland, persecution in Tibet, etc.
It appears that many "Christians" here have forgotten the primary tenets of their own religion such as "turn the other cheek", "judge not lest ye be judged" and "love thy neighbor as thyself". The rabid intolerant speculating espoused by many here just promotes ignorance and hatred. I stumbled upon this thread yesterday and came back to see just how far people would go. Many of you have surpassed my imagination of how hateful people can really be.

Posted at 10:04AM on Jan 6th 2009 by Al

255. The parents have held themselves out to the public as entertainers, thus the public has an interest. Obscene or violent remarks will be censured, I HOPE.

Posted at 12:25PM on Jan 6th 2009 by Peach