Jett Travolta

My heart goes out to the Travolta family as they admit that their son had autism.

I cannot imagine the heaviness in their hearts. All the money in the world doesn't assure that you are happy - having a disabled child, an ill child, and losing that child in death - I cannot imagine any greater pain.

Just to let people know - there are a lot of conditions that are co-morbid with autism. Epileptic seizures are frequently reported in as high as 40% of those who have autism. Indeed, it was this sad connection that helped researchers realize that autism was not a psychological condition (sometimes deemed as refrigerator mother syndrome or schizophrenia) but a true medical illness perpetuating in the brain; neurological.

Autism is serious. To call it a learning disorder trivializes the nature of the disease, and doesn't recognize that indeed those with it could be at greater risk for severe health problems, perhaps even death. Most prognosis for autism is that there is a normal life span. However, this doesn't consider the other ailments that are commonly comorbid with autism such as seizures and genetic problems. A child who cannot communicate about how they feel are likely not to receive the treatment they need for other medical conditions.

I hope the Travolta family can come to terms with all the terrible public scrutiny they are facing. I with them peace as they are lingering in the darkest trenches a parent can be in.