John Travolta and Kelly Preston shared an Instagram post of a photo of them with their son Jett as it would have been his 28th birthday on Monday. They added a caption, greeting their son a happy birthday, and saying that they love him.
Jett's Death
In January 2009, their family was on vacation at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island when Jett had a seizure attack. He hit his head on a bathtub at his family's vacation home.
Jett's caretaker found him unconscious in the bathroom at around ten in the morning. He was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital.
Preston shared a throwback photo of herself, her husband, Ella Bleu, 19, and Jett, 16, earlier this month, and wrote a caption that raises awareness for the people with autism, saying that they have a special place in her heart.
Travolta's Love for Jett
After Jett was born and cleaned, Travolta held him in his arms for hours while Preston slept. Even when the nurse came to take Jett for various tests, Travolta told them to go back another day. In an interview in 1994, Travolta said that he could not imagine his life without Jett.
Preston Opens Up on Autism
Travolta and Preston do not talk much about their son Jett or autism. However, on an episode of "The Doctors" in November 2012, she shared about his condition, saying that Jett had seizures and that he had Kawasaki Syndrome when he was two years old.
Jett became very ill, which had flu-like symptoms before he was diagnosed with Kawasaki Syndrome. Usually affecting children ages two to five, the condition can cause inflammation of the arteries. And even if it is treatable, in rare cases, it can lead to heart damage.
She added that they know that certain contributing factors lead to his autism. She said some of it is found in chemicals in the environment and food. Preston blamed pesticides, fertilizers, and household cleaners because they had caused Jett to suffer from asthma.
They Welcomed Their Second Son
On November 23, 2010, Travolta and Preston welcomed their second son, Benjamin, following the loss of Jett. Preston and Ella cleaned everything out of the house for a significant preparation mode to welcome their newest addition as the pregnancy neared its end.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston's second son, Benjamin.
In 2011, Travolta shared with People that Ben has given the house a renewed spirit and purpose. He was born three years after the couple was trying to conceive. The news of Preston being pregnant left the couple "completely blown away!"
Travolta told Good Morning America in September 2016 that the addition helped keep their family together. He said that having "little Ben" has made them rebond after a tremendous loss.
