Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Freddie Freeman made a heartfelt return to the Dodgers on Monday after a challenging week with his family. Freeman’s three-year-old son, Maximus, was hospitalized with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare and severe condition where the immune system attacks the nerves. Freeman opened up about his son’s condition and the emotional rollercoaster his family endured.
“Max is doing all right,” Freeman said, his voice trembling with emotion. “We came home Saturday night from the ICU. He started physical therapy yesterday, and he hates that, but his personality is back. He’s Max again. He’s doing good in that aspect, but he has to relearn how to do pretty much everything.”
The journey began when Max woke up with a limp, which quickly escalated to the point where he couldn’t walk or even sit up. Despite initial diagnoses suggesting transient synovitis, a condition causing hip pain following a viral infection, Max’s condition deteriorated rapidly. By Wednesday, Freeman was pulled out of a game as his wife, Chelsea, rushed Max to the emergency room.
Reflecting on the severity of Max’s condition, Freeman shared, “Within four days, it had reached his shoulders, affecting his diaphragm and breathing. By 7:30, he was completely ventilated, with feeding tubes and everything.” The doctors at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange County, where Max was treated, were instrumental in his recovery. “The team of doctors and nurses, they were incredible,” Freeman said. “Within four hours of him being ventilated, they started a treatment called IVIG, and it began to work.”
The emotional toll on Freeman and his family was immense. “This is a really tough time,” Freeman admitted. “Chelsea and I, it’s been a long week. No one should have to go through this, especially a three-year-old. I don’t know how many times we said we wish we could switch places with him.”
Returning to baseball provided Freeman with a semblance of normalcy and a sign of better days ahead. “It’s a good thing I’m here because that means things are trending better,” he explained. “The Dodgers have been incredible. They said I didn’t have to be here, to take as much time as I needed. But Chelsea and I decided that since Max was recovering, I could come back today.”
The support from the Dodgers organization and the baseball community was overwhelming. “The Dodgers, from Mark to Stan, everyone reached out,” Freeman said. “Pat Murphy and his staff even sent a video to my family, praying for us and wishing us well. The love and support gave us hope. It was needed, and we can’t thank everyone enough.”
Freeman’s return to the field is a testament to his strength and dedication. He acknowledges the long road ahead for Max but remains optimistic. “Max is on his way to being better,” Freeman said. “It’s going to be a long road, but we’ve been told he’s going to make a full recovery. We’re just taking it day by day.”
As Freeman steps back onto the field, he does so with a heart full of gratitude and hope. His family’s ordeal has touched the hearts of many, and his resilience is a source of inspiration. Welcome back, Freddie Freeman. Your strength and courage are as remarkable as your talent on the field.
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