The wife of Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman issued a health update on their youngest son, Maximus, in a social media post Thursday.
Maximus, 3, is battling a severe case of Guillan-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological condition. Maximus’ symptoms have included full-body paralysis, the post said. According to Mayo Clinic, the syndrome is “a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. It can cause weakness, numbness or paralysis.”
Chelsea Freeman’s post said the child was excavated from his breathing tube and taken off the ventilator on Wednesday afternoon. Maximus remains hospitalized.
“These have been the hardest and scariest days of our lives,” Chelsea wrote. “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. ”
Freeman, the All-Star first baseman, has been away from the Dodgers since July 26, a day after the family revealed that Maximus had been hospitalized. As Chelsea explained in her most recent post, Maximus’ condition that day “rapidly declined,” spurring Freeman to return to Los Angeles to be with his young son and family.
Update on Max… #Guillainbarre #gbs #gbsawareness pic.twitter.com/arIRjhHFdr
— Chelsea Freeman (@chelseafree5) August 1, 2024
The Freemans believe the issue stemmed from a viral infection Maximus suffered during last month’s All-Star game in Arlington, Texas.
At the time of the initial announcement, the Dodgers gave no timetable for Freeman’s return. Freeman remains on emergency family leave.
Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that the team would give Freeman all the time he needs.
“He’s still kind of in it with Max,” Roberts said. “I don’t see him coming back for this series and we have the off day after this series and we’ll revisit. To be quite honest, I haven’t even broached that subject of him coming back, I just don’t feel it’s right.”
(Photo of Freddie Freeman from May 15: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
