Making his return Monday from a nearly two-week absence as he tended to the health of his son, Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman became emotional after fans supported him with a standing ovation before his first at-bat.
Freeman had also walked into the clubhouse ahead of Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies and saw blue shirts that honored his son hanging from each locker. The shirts had Freeman’s name and number on the back and had ‘#MaxStrong’ printed on the front, in honor of Freeman’s 3-year-old son, Maximus, who has been battling a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome.
‘That’s the first time I cried today,’ Freeman told reporters of the moment he saw the shirts. ‘It means a lot.’
Freeman and his teammates wore the shirts in solidarity with Max during pregame workouts.
What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic. The first symptoms are usually weakness and a tingling feeling in the hands and feet.
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It can quickly progress to paralysis, which is what happened to Freeman’s son. There is no specific cure for the syndrome but treatments can help speed up recovery and reduce symptoms.
Freeman said that Max is expected to make a full recovery, but that he will need to undergo physical therapy and other treatments.
‘He didn’t deserve this,’ Freeman said. ‘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 Guillain-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 going to be a long road.’
Freeman also detailed how Max needed to be put on a ventilator during the bout of paralysis. Freeman had last appeared in a game for the Dodgers on July 25. As the team was making a road trip to Houston to face the Astros, Freeman got word that Max would need to go to the hospital, leading to Freeman making a rushed return to Los Angeles to be with his family as Max underwent treatments.
During his absence, Freeman said several members of the MLB community reached out to express sympathy and support. That included Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, whom Freeman embraced in a hug in the third inning after Freeman singled to right field and reached base.
The Dodgers won Monday’s game, 5-3.
‘I’m just very thankful for the baseball community, lifting up Max in prayer and love and support,’ Freeman said. ‘It’s going to be a long journey for him, but it’s a beautiful thing that he’s on the path to being recovered.’