Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has been away from the team for over a week due to a family emergency involving his 3-year-old son, Maximus. Freddie’s wife, Chelsea, updated Dodgers and baseball fans earlier this week, revealing that Maximus has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
“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,” Chelsea wrote at the time.
Maximus experienced full-body paralysis and was taken to the hospital to have his lungs reinforced. There, he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Chelsea and Freddie Freeman provide further updates on Maximus’s condition. According to Chelsea’s Instagram story, Max had his feeding tube removed on Saturday, a significant improvement in a previously frightening situation. This update comes just days after his breathing tube was removed, as Chelsea previously shared:
“We have been blown away by his improvements in the last 48 hours. Maximus was extubated from his breathing tube and taken off the ventilator yesterday, which is a huge win for us. We believe in the power of prayer and 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,” Chelsea wrote.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also shared his thoughts, noting that while he hadn’t seen the post, he had been in constant contact with Freddie Freeman.
“I didn’t even see that post, but I was texting with Freddie yesterday,” Roberts said. “He says that they’re encouraged, so we’re just holding out hope and prayers.”
It is unclear when Freeman will return to the team, as he is not in the Dodgers’ Sunday lineup against the Athletics.