Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has returned to the team after a significant absence due to a family emergency. The 34-year-old athlete had to step away from the game for eight matches starting July 25 to deal with a serious situation involving his youngest son.
Freeman, a father of three boys, revealed that his 3-year-old son, Max, experienced a medical crisis that deeply affected his family. After attending the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas, in mid-July, Max and his siblings fell ill. While his two older sons recovered, Max’s condition worsened, culminating in him having trouble walking by July 22.
Initially, Max was diagnosed with transient synovitis, an inflammation of the hip joint that usually resolves on its own. However, Max’s condition deteriorated, and he lost the ability to sit up or walk. He was admitted to the emergency room, where doctors identified him with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a severe autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system, causing muscle weakness and potentially paralysis.
Max’s symptoms rapidly progressed; he lost feeling in his feet, and the paralysis spread up to his shoulders, making it hard for him to breathe independently. He was placed in the ICU with a feeding tube and on a ventilator. Fortunately, timely treatment led to improvements, and by August 3, Max’s feeding tube was removed, and he was discharged after spending eight days in intensive care.
Max is now recovering but will need physical therapy to regain his ability to walk. Although the full recovery timeline is uncertain, he is expected to make a complete recovery.
Freddie Freeman has returned to the Dodgers, where he was welcomed with tremendous support from his teammates and fans. On his first game back, Freeman was emotional when his teammates wore “#MaxStrong” shirts in his honor during pre-game activities. The crowd at Dodger Stadium gave him a standing ovation, and he shared a heartfelt moment with Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, who had reached out to him during his absence. Freeman expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the baseball community, acknowledging the ongoing journey ahead for Max and the positive steps being taken toward recovery.