The wife of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman provided an update on the scary medical condition affecting the couple’s 3-year-old son, Maximus, on Thursday.
Although it sounds as if the worst is over for Maximus, the Instagram post by Chelsea Freeman more than explains the reason why Freddie Freeman abruptly left the Dodgers last Friday in Houston to be home with his family.
“Last Friday, Max rapidly declined and went into full body paralysis,” she wrote on Instagram. “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,” Chelsea Freeman continued. “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.”
With Freeman away from the team, the Dodgers had not provided an update on their All-Star first baseman’s status in the meantime. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Houston, and again when the team returned home Tuesday to play the San Francisco Giants, that he did not expect to pencil Freeman’s name in the lineup.
Now we know why.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, causing weakness, numbness, or paralysis. The website notes that Guillain-Barre syndrome can affect all age groups, but the risk increases as you age.
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Freddie Freeman, 34, is an 8-time All-Star and the 2020 National League MVP. He’s hitting .288 with an .888 OPS this season, his third in Los Angeles after leaving the Atlanta Braves as a free agent.
The Dodgers have gone 1-4 without Freeman, who was placed on the Family Emergency List last Friday.
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