Dodgers' Freddie Freeman and wife Chelsea reveal 3-year-old son Max has rare neurological disorder

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, provided an emotional update on their son Maximus' health condition after a sudden medical emergency led to his hospitalization.

In a previous Instagram story, Chelsea revealed that Maximus was rushed to the hospital due to undisclosed health issues that arose after the All-Star break. Freddie Freeman joined his family and spent the night in the emergency room following a game against the San Francisco Giants.

Maximus' condition and diagnosis

On Thursday, August 1, the couple posted a picture of Maximus along with an extended update on his health.

They shared, "Last Friday, Max rapidly declined and went into full body paralysis. We are very fortunate to have gotten him to the hospital in time so they could reinforce his lungs. Freddie was in Houston at the time and rushed to the first flight back home. After many tests, Max is battling a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome. A neurological condition that is especially rare in children."

According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves, leading to weakness, numbness, or even paralysis. Though there is no known cure, most individuals recover completely.

GBS is often triggered by an acute bacterial or viral infection, and symptoms typically begin with weakness and tingling in the lower body, which can escalate to paralysis as the condition progresses, as seen with Maximus.

The couple noted the challenges and fears they faced, "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. We have been blown away by his improvements in the last 48 hours."

They also shared a milestone in Maximus' recovery: "Maximus was excavated from his breathing tube and taken off of the ventilator yesterday, which is a huge win for us. We believe in the power of prayer and we 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."

Impact on Freddie Freeman and the Dodgers

With Freddie Freeman away to support his family, the Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to maintain their leading position in the National League West. The team holds a 63-46 record and will be on the road through August 4, wrapping up their series with the Oakland Athletics.

Freeman, who has not played since July 25, was placed on MLB's family emergency list, which allows a maximum absence of seven days. If his absence extends beyond this period, he can be moved to the restricted list.

Freeman's absence has been felt by the team, both emotionally and on the field. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented, "When your child is going through things it’s just hard to be present, and rightfully so. He certainly had a heavy heart the last few days, and I just pray that Max is going to recover well and have a full recovery."

Freeman is in his third season with the Dodgers and has been a key player. This summer, he has maintained a batting average of .288, hit 16 home runs, and recorded 67 RBIs in 104 games. The Dodgers, with their current record, have a 4.5-game lead in the NL West standings.

In Freeman's absence, players like Cavan Biggio and Enrique Hernandez have stepped in to cover first base. The team is set to begin a three-game road series with the Oakland Athletics on Friday, Yahoo! Sports reported.