Freddie Freeman returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night after missing nearly two weeks to be with his family following his son's medical scare.
Last week, Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, revealed that their 3-year-old son, Max, had been diagnosed with a “severe case” of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is “especially rare in children.”
The disease occurs when the immune system attacks the nerves, leading to muscle weakness. The couple said Max suffered “full-body paralysis” and was hospitalised.
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman acknowledges fans' applause at home plate during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles, in his return to the lineup after missing games to be with his hospitalized son. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)
But the couple announced over the weekend that Max had returned home after spending eight days in an ICU.
“Max still has a long road ahead of him to regain his strength and learn to walk again. But we are so grateful to have our family together again. Thank God for this miracle,” the couple wrote in an Instagram post.
When Freeman walked into the Dodgers' clubhouse on Monday, all of his teammates were wearing blue Dodgers T-shirts that read “#MaxStrong.” Freeman was handed one.
Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers wears a “#MaxStrong” shirt before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)
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Freeman went 1-for-4 with a single and received a standing ovation before his first at-bat, when he became emotional. He and Bryce Harper even hugged after Freeman's only base hit of the night.
The Freemans wrote that the days leading up to Max's hospitalization had been “the hardest and scariest days of our lives.”
“Maximus is a very special little boy and has been fighting VERY hard. It's going to be a long process to recover, but we have faith that he will heal completely,” they wrote.
Max has two older brothers, Charlie and Brandon, the latter of whom is six weeks older than Max, having been born via surrogate.
National League first baseman Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers with his wife Chelsea during the red carpet show at LA Live. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)
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Freeman is in his third season with the Dodgers after spending his first 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braveswinning the World Series in his final game with them in 2021. He signed a six-year deal with LA and is hitting .287 with an .884 OPS this season.
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