Los Angeles Dodgers player in July 2024 Freddie Freeman left the team before the series opener against the Houston Astros after his infant son Max was hospitalized for a medical emergency. Max was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

What happened to Freddie Freeman’s son?

During MLB’s All-Star Week in July 2024, Max contracted a viral infection. When Max was no longer able to stand or walk without pain, Freddie and his wife Chelsea FreemanHe rushed the little guy to the hospital.

“Please say a prayer for Maximus,” Chelsea wrote on her Instagram Stories at the time. “Dr. says he developed temporary synovitis due to the viral infection he had during All-Star Week. Day 3 of not being able to sit, stand or walk… Any tips to help toddlers take/take medication? He’s usually good at taking medication, but he keeps spitting it out.”

However, the couple later made a completely different diagnosis.

“Last Friday, Max deteriorated rapidly and suffered full-body paralysis. We are very lucky that we got him to the hospital in time so that his lungs could be strengthened. “Freddie was in Houston at the time rushing to catch the first flight home,” Freddie and Chelsea shared in a joint Instagram post on August 1, 2024. “After many tests, Max is battling a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome. A rare neurological disease that occurs particularly rarely in children. These were the hardest and scariest days of our lives. Maximus is such a special boy and he fought SO hard.”

They continued: “This will be a journey to recovery, but we trust he will make a full recovery.” We have been overwhelmed by his improvements over the last 48 hours. Yesterday Maximus was released from his breathing tube and taken off the ventilator, which is a huge win for us. We believe in the power of prayer and witnessed a miracle in his recovery. Please continue to pray for Maximus and our family. We greatly appreciate and have felt your support.”

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack nerves. Although the exact cause is unknown, two-thirds of people with Guillain-Barré show symptoms of infection in the weeks before the syndrome appears.

The Mayo Clinic added that most people recover fully from Guillain-Barré syndrome, but there have been some cases where severe illness has developed.

How is Freddie Freeman’s son doing now?

In October 2024, Chelsea gave fans an update on how Max is recovering since his diagnosis.

“Max’s neurologist is VERY, VERY happy with his progress. Today Dr. Crawford Max running for the first time. We’re still waiting for his reflexes to come back, but that usually takes the longest,” Chelsea wrote alongside a photo of herself and Max on October 10, 2024. “A few weeks ago we talked about getting Max fitted with leg braces. But he’s doing so well that maybe we can get around them. With the help of a lot of PT, Max gets closer and closer to his normal wild self. Thank you again to everyone for your prayers and good wishes for our family.”