Dodgers News: Freemans donate bigtime to hospital that nursed Max back to health
A Cool $1 Million to CHOC
ORANGE, CA — A classy act from a classy ballplayer. People may talk about showing gratitude, but Freddie Freeman puts his money where his mouth is.
Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, announced they are donating $1 million to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), the facility that helped save the life of their 3-year-old son, Maximus, after a frightening health crisis in 2024.
Last July, Maximus was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves. The condition rapidly progressed, leading to paralysis that climbed to his shoulders. He had to be rushed to the emergency room, placed on a ventilator, and fed through tubes.
What followed was a harrowing few days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), but under the care of CHOC’s medical team, Maximus began to recover. Incredibly, he was able to return home just days later, and he’s now expected to make a full recovery.
“Seeing every room full in the PICU each and every day impacted Chelsea and I deeply,” Freeman told ESPN. “Getting to know the doctors, nurses and care teams and seeing how they show up each day to bring healing and hope to kids and their families was inspiring. CHOC saved Maximus’ life.”
Now, the Freemans are giving back to the hospital that carried their family through its darkest moments. Their $1 million donation will support CHOC’s mission to care for critically ill children and provide comfort to families navigating the most difficult challenges.
Freeman’s ordeal with Maximus came just months before he would make Dodgers and baseball history. In October 2024, he hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, securing a championship for Los Angeles—the club’s first in a full-length season since 1988.
Still, when asked about that legendary moment, Freeman made clear that his priorities had shifted long before he stepped into the batter’s box.
“I would gladly strike out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the World Series 300 million times in a row than see that again,” he said, referring to his son’s health crisis.
Freeman’s perspective reflects a grounded humility, even at the height of professional success. His postseason heroics may be immortalized in Dodger lore, but it’s this act of generosity and gratitude that speaks even louder about who he is as a person.
The donation isn’t just a personal thank-you—it’s a lifeline for other families going through unimaginable pain. With their gift, the Freemans are helping ensure that CHOC has the resources to continue delivering expert care and emotional support to those who need it most.
Dodger fans already know Freddie Freeman as a steady bat, a clubhouse leader, and a World Series hero. Now, they can also count him as one of the organization’s most compassionate ambassadors, using his platform to make a real-world impact far beyond the foul lines.
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