Los Angeles welcomed Freddie Freeman back to the Dodgers early Monday afternoon, a poignant return following an emotionally taxing two weeks. His three-year-old son, Maximus, had faced a rare neurological disorder, a battle that transformed the Dodgers’ clubhouse into a symbol of solidarity. Dodger Blue T-shirts, each bearing Freeman’s name and number alongside the powerful message “#MaxStrong,” hung in every locker, a visible testament to the team’s support.
Moments later, the pregame workouts saw Dodgers coaches and players proudly wearing these shirts, a united front for their star first baseman and his youngest child. “That’s the first time I cried today,” Freeman admitted, deeply moved by the gesture. “It means a lot.”
During a heartfelt 30-minute session with reporters, Freeman openly shared the anguish of witnessing his son’s suffering. Max had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its nerves. This attack leads to weakness, numbness, and tragically in Max’s case, paralysis.
The onset was rapid and alarming. On July 22nd, a slight limp was the first sign, escalating to full paralysis just four days later. This prompted Freeman to urgently return home from a series against the Houston Astros. By Wednesday, a glimmer of hope emerged as doctors were able to remove Max from his ventilator.
Five days following this crucial step, Freeman was back on the field, resuming his position at first base and batting third for the Dodgers in a series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. The crowd erupted in a long standing ovation as he stepped up to bat, a powerful wave of support that resonated through the stadium. Even the Phillies joined in the applause from their dugout. The pitch clock paused as Freeman acknowledged the heartfelt reception, removing his helmet to wave to the crowd before touching his chest in gratitude.
“I was doing OK tipping my hat and then my dad was sitting first row with my stepmom, and he was – I don’t know if I could call it crying, but he was choked up and teary-eyed,” Freeman recounted, his voice thick with emotion. “That’s what really got me going.”
Max’s journey through the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) spanned eight days before his discharge on Saturday. The very next day marked the beginning of his physical therapy, a crucial step on the road to recovery.
“His personality is back,” Freeman shared with relief, “but he’s got to learn how to do pretty much everything.” The encouraging news is that Max is expected to make a full recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Freeman emphasized, his voice filled with emotion. “No one deserves this, anybody who goes through this. It’s not just my family. We were going every night, and every room is filled in the [pediatric ICU]. And that is heartbreaking. So many families are going through things like this. We’re one of the lucky ones that got Guillain-Barré that he might have a full recovery. There are kids out there who are fighting for their lives right now. It just puts everything in perspective.”
Freeman poignantly added, “I know Dodger fans don’t like this, but 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. But he’s on his way. He’s on his way. It’s going to be a long road.”
The progression of Max’s condition was initially subtle but rapidly worsened. From a slight limp on the evening of July 22nd to the inability to walk by nightfall. Doctors initially suspected transient synovitis, a common temporary inflammation of the hip joint in young children. However, by the following day, Max’s condition deteriorated further; he was unable to even sit up.
Late on the night of July 24th, a sense of panic gripped Freeman’s wife, Chelsea. She contacted the Dodgers’ clubhouse manager, Alex Torres, desperately explaining that Max was refusing to eat or drink and urgently needed hospitalization. Manager Dave Roberts waited for Freeman in the dugout during the ninth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants to deliver the news that he needed to go home immediately. Doctors conducted tests, started Max on an IV, administered Toradol, a strong anti-inflammatory, and discharged him in the early hours of the morning at 3:30 AM.
Freeman played in a day game the next afternoon and then boarded the team’s flight to Houston, anxiously awaiting updates from Max’s follow-up appointment. The news from the doctor was alarming: Max needed to be transported to the hospital immediately. Freeman rushed to the airport, catching the first flight back to Southern California. Within a mere two hours of arriving at the emergency room at 10 PM, Max was placed on a ventilator to support his lungs as the paralysis began to affect his diaphragm. He had lost movement in his entire body below his neck. This was the distressing scene Freeman encountered upon arriving at the hospital.
“I think a lot of us are parents in here,” Freeman said, his voice breaking as he held a towel to his face, overwhelmed by emotion. “To see one of your kids on a ventilator fighting … it was hard.”
The tide began to turn the next morning. Doctors initiated intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy at 6 AM, a crucial immunotherapy treatment used as a primary defense against Guillain-Barré syndrome. A second dose followed 13 hours later. Remarkably, within ten minutes of the second dose, Max showed a positive sign – he shrugged his shoulders. This small movement signaled a potential turning point. By the following Tuesday, discussions about removing the ventilator began, and on Wednesday, at 10:46 PM, it became a reality, a moment Freeman vividly remembers.
Moments later, Max was in his father’s arms. “I can’t tell you how good that felt, to be able to hold my son again,” Freeman expressed, the relief palpable in his voice. “That was a special time, just knowing how hard he fought in those five days. You know, when he was born, we were trying to figure out a name; we had to name two kids at that time. Chelsea came upon Maximus. I’m like, ‘That’s a strong name.’ I didn’t know he was going to prove me true within four years of his life.”
Freeman’s demeanor on Monday was a mix of sadness and profound relief, underscored by deep gratitude. He expressed thanks to the overwhelming support from players and coaches across baseball, including a supportive video from Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy and his team. He also acknowledged the unwavering support of the Dodgers organization, who assured him to take all the time he needed. Above all, he extended heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional team of doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
“I’m here nine days after, and it feels like a miracle,” Freeman reflected. “It really does. So, I can’t thank them enough.”
The exact cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome remains unknown, and currently, there is no known cure. The Mayo Clinic notes that while most patients achieve a full recovery, severe cases can be life-threatening. The condition’s rapid progression emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention.
Currently, Max can sit up unaided, which doctors consider a positive baseline for his recovery. While his hands are still curled, and he faces the task of relearning to walk, Freeman is optimistic about his son’s full recovery. After Monday’s game, Chelsea sent Freeman a heartwarming picture of Max during tummy time, smiling. “He seemed happy about it,” Freeman shared, surprised and delighted.
Understandably, Freeman had not watched any of the Dodgers’ games in Houston, his focus entirely on his son, anxiously waiting for any sign of improvement. He resumed batting practice on Tuesday morning, mainly to loosen up after several nights spent on a hospital couch. He progressed to hitting off a tee again on Thursday.
The following day, Freeman discussed his return with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. His return on Monday led to the Dodgers designating infielder Cavan Biggio for assignment.
Freeman acknowledged the uncertainty of playing amidst everything, but Max’s progress brings him immense comfort. “I’m here because things are better at home,” Freeman stated. “He is on his way for recovery. He’s at home happy. I said, ‘Are you excited to watch Daddy on TV tonight?’ He said, ‘Yes.'”
Freeman’s first at-bat resulted in a strikeout, which he described as “one of the most pleasant strikeouts I’ve ever had in my big league career.” However, in the third inning, he delivered a base hit to right field, igniting a resounding “Freddie!” chant from the crowd of over 48,000. These were the same chants that echoed in early 2021 when he was still processing his departure from the Atlanta Braves.
Upon reaching first base, Freeman embraced Phillies star Bryce Harper, who, Freeman noted, had “probably texted at least four times during nine days, really checking in.”
“I’m just very thankful for the baseball community, lifting up Max in prayer and love and support,” Freeman concluded. “It’s going to be a long journey for him, but it’s a beautiful thing that he’s on the path to being recovered.”
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.
