After Freddie Freeman’s sudden departure from the Dodgers last Friday, concerns arose about his 3-year-old son, Maximus, who was hospitalized in Southern California.
On Thursday, an update came through Chelsea Freeman’s Instagram account. Freddie’s wife shared some frightening, yet hopeful news:
“Last Friday, Max rapidly declined and went into full body paralysis,” she wrote. “We are very fortunate to have gotten him to the hospital in time so they could reinforce his lungs.
“Freddie was in Houston at the time and rushed to the first flight back home. After many tests, Max is battling a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome. A rare neurological condition that is especially rare in children. These have been the hardest and scariest days of our lives. Maximus is such a special boy and he has been fighting SO hard. This is going to be a journey to recover, but we have faith that he will be completely healed.
“We have been blown away by his improvements in the last 48 hours. Maximus was excavated from his breathing tube and taken off of the ventilator yesterday, which is a huge win for us. We believe in the power of prayer and we have been witnessing a miracle in his recovery. Please continue to cover Maximus and our family in your prayers. We really appreciate and have felt all of your support.”
Freeman, 34, is hitting .288 with an .888 OPS this season, his third in Los Angeles. The Dodgers have gone 1-4 without Freeman, who was placed on the Family Emergency List last Friday.
Although manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Houston and San Diego that he didn’t expect Freeman back in the lineup for either series, it was not apparent how serious an emergency his family was dealing with.
Now, the reason for his absence is crystal clear.
With Maximus now on the road to recovery, the Freeman family can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the Dodgers and their fans await Freddie’s return, hoping for the best both on and off the field.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
