Freddie Freeman, the star first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, returned to the team on Monday after a challenging two-week period during which his 3-year-old son, Maximus, faced a rare neurological disorder. As a show of support, Freeman’s teammates donned Dodger Blue T-shirts emblazoned with “#MaxStrong” during their pregame workouts.
Freeman shared his emotional journey during a press conference, recounting the ordeal of watching his son suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition that leads the immune system to attack nerves, resulting in weakness and paralysis. Max’s health rapidly declined after he woke with a limp on July 22, leading to full paralysis just four days later, prompting Freeman to rush home from a series against the Houston Astros. By the following Wednesday, Max was taken off his ventilator after a week in intensive care.
Freeman made his return to the Dodgers’ lineup in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was met with a heartfelt standing ovation from the crowd. The emotional moment intensified when Freeman saw his father in the stands visibly moved, which brought tears to his eyes.
Max’s medical treatment included a round of intravenous immunoglobulin, leading to signs of improvement as he began to show movement. Freeman expressed his relief and gratitude for the medical team, as well as the outpouring of support from the baseball community.
Although Max is still in recovery and has to relearn basic motor skills, Freeman is optimistic about his son’s full recovery. He shared a heartwarming moment when he received a picture from his wife of a smiling Max during rehabilitation.
Freeman returned to the field with a focus on his son’s progress, calling the opportunity to play again one of the most pleasant experiences of his career. After striking out in his first at-bat, he followed up with a hit that ignited cheers from the crowd. He acknowledged the support from fellow players, including Bryce Harper, who kept in touch during his family’s crisis.
Freeman concluded by emphasizing the importance of community support during hard times and remained hopeful for the long road ahead in Max’s recovery journey.