In an emotional moment at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, Freddie Freeman removed his helmet and waved to the crowd as fans rose to their feet in a standing ovation before his first at-bat.
This heartfelt scene marked Freeman’s return to the Dodgers following a deeply challenging period as his three-year-old son, Maximus, battled Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.
The day was filled with poignant moments for Freeman.
Earlier, he was moved to tears upon entering the clubhouse and seeing his teammates and the Dodgers coaching staff wearing T-shirts emblazoned with his name and number on the back and “#MaxStrong” on the front.
The team wore these shirts during pregame workouts to show their support for Freeman and his family, a gesture that the All-Star first baseman deeply appreciated.
“Max is doing all right… but he’s got to relearn how to do pretty much everything,” Freeman said in an emotional press conference.
“It’s a terrible syndrome, Guillain-Barré… but it’s a good thing I’m here because it means things are trending better. No one should have to go through this, especially with a 3-year-old.”
Freeman shared that Maximus’ recovery is ongoing, though he was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, showing signs of improvement.
The ordeal has been harrowing for Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, who watched their son endure severe symptoms and a prolonged hospital stay.
Maximus spent eight days in a pediatric intensive care unit and began physical therapy shortly after.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Freeman told ESPN. “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 Guillen-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.
“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 gonna be a long road.”
The situation for Maximus escalated quickly from a limp to complete paralysis from the neck down within a few days.
Initially misdiagnosed with transient synovitis, his condition worsened, leading to a correct diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome after being admitted to the ER.
Freeman rushed to be by his family’s side at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where Maximus was placed on a ventilator.
Two rounds of intravenous immunoglobulin, an immunotherapy treatment, helped turn the tide, and Maximus began showing signs of improvement.
The ventilator was removed on Wednesday, allowing Freeman to hold his son for the first time since the ordeal began.
“I can’t tell you how good that felt, to be able to hold my son again,” Freeman said. “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 Maxiumus. 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.”
Before the Dodgers eventual 5-3 victory over the Phillies, Freeman made sure to express his sincere gratitude, calling his son’s progress a “miracle.”
Maximus can now sit up on his own, a positive sign for his recovery, though he will need to relearn how to walk.
Needless to say, the entire baseball world is pulling for little Max and the entire Freeman family.