The Los Angeles Dodgers show their support for Freddie Freeman’s son, Max.
Ahead of Monday’s Aug. 5 home game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the MLB team’s players and coaches wore matching #MaxStrong T-shirts to support the first baseman’s 3-year-old son, who recently spent more than a week in the pediatric intensive care unit.
“To Freddie’s son, Max. Get well soon! We’re all rooting for you,” the Dodgers franchise posted on Instagram.
During the game, Freeman, 34, received an emotional ovation from the crowd after he stood up and struck out in the bottom of the first inning. The fans cheered him for almost a minute before he got on the bench.
The baseball player missed eight games to be with his family after Max was diagnosed with transient synovitis (also known as irritable hip) and Guillain-Barre syndrome in July.
MLB player Freddie Freeman’s son Max, 3, goes home after 8 days in pediatric intensive care
Shohei Ohtani August 5, 2024
Gene Wang/Getty
Freeman’s wife, Chelsea, has been keeping followers updated on Max’s health journey over the past month. The three-year-old was initially taken to hospital on July 24 after suffering severe pain and was unable to “sit, stand or walk”.
Max was initially diagnosed with transient synovitis, which is known as irritable hip. A few days later, he went into full-body paralysis and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which Chelsea shared on Instagram on August 1. “This will be a road to recovery, but we believe he will be fully healed,” she wrote.
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From left: Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sport/Imagn
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On Sunday, August 4, Chelsea announced that Max is finally coming home. “After 8 long days in the pediatric intensive care unit, we are officially HOME!” she wrote on Instagram, sharing pictures of Max and Freddie, plus a clip of him reuniting with his brothers Charlie, 7, and Brandon, 3.
She added: “Max still has a long way to go to regain his strength and learn to walk again. But we are so thankful that our family is back together. Thank you God for this miracle.”
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From left: Chelsea, Max and Freddie Freeman.
Chelsea Freeman/Instagram
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Chelsea also paid tribute to the hospital staff who looked after Max during his stay. “Also, thank you to our amazing team of angel doctors and nurses for taking such good care of our boy. And to our village for being so helpful with Charlie and Brandon,” she wrote.
Ahead of Max’s release, Chelsea has been thinking about Max’s recovery. “We had so many scary setbacks the first few days, but he’s gotten better so quickly. I can’t believe it. He’s blown me away,” Chelsea said.
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