You’ve probably seen the #MaxStrong shirts in the stands at Dodger Stadium or noticed the heavy emotions in Freddie Freeman’s eyes during the 2024 postseason. It wasn't just the pressure of the World Series. Honestly, what happened with Freddie Freeman son is the kind of nightmare that stops a family’s world in its tracks.
One day you have a healthy three-year-old running around, and a few days later, you’re in a hospital room watching him fight to breathe. It’s terrifying.
Maximus Freeman, the youngest of Freddie and Chelsea’s three boys, was hit with a medical crisis so rare and so aggressive that it nearly forced the Dodgers’ superstar to walk away from baseball entirely. Here is the actual story of what the Freeman family went through and where things stand now in 2026.
The Week Everything Changed
It basically started during the 2024 All-Star break. The family was in Arlington, Texas, and like most kids at a big event, all three Freeman boys felt a little under the weather. Max threw up on the flight home. No big deal, right? Most parents would just think it was a stomach bug or travel fatigue.
But Max didn't get better. He got worse. Fast.
By July 22, 2024, the little guy woke up with a limp. Two days later, he couldn't even sit up or stand on his own. Doctors at a local clinic initially thought it was transient synovitis—basically "irritable hip" that sometimes follows a viral infection in kids. They sent him home with some pain meds.
It wasn't that.
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Chelsea Freeman later shared that Max "coded" at check-in when they rushed him back to the emergency room. Within hours, he went into full-body paralysis. Imagine that. One minute he’s a toddler playing, and the next, he’s paralyzed from the neck down and needing a ventilator to keep his lungs from collapsing.
Understanding the Diagnosis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) eventually diagnosed Max with a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
If you aren't a medical expert, here’s the simple version: GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder where your own immune system gets confused. After a viral or bacterial infection, the body starts attacking its own nerves. It usually starts in the feet and moves up. In Max’s case, it moved with terrifying speed, reaching his shoulders and diaphragm in just a few days.
It is incredibly rare in children, which made the situation even more precarious.
The Recovery Timeline
- Late July 2024: Max is hospitalized, placed on a ventilator, and starts IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) treatments.
- August 2024: After eight days in the PICU, Max is finally discharged. He has to relearn everything—literally starting from "tummy time" like an infant.
- September 2024: Max takes his first steps again.
- March 2025: Chelsea updates fans that Max is "80% recovered" and finally has reflexes in his knees and feet again.
- May 2025: The Freemans donate $1 million to CHOC, the hospital that saved Max’s life.
Why the Story is Resurfacing Now
Even though Max made huge strides throughout 2025, the journey isn't exactly "over." People are talking about it again because Freddie Freeman recently pulled out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) for "personal reasons."
Naturally, fans started worrying. Is Max okay?
While there hasn't been a specific "setback" reported, GBS recovery isn't a straight line. Chelsea has been very open about the fact that Max still deals with physical therapy to work on his "dorsiflexion"—the ability to lift his feet—and general leg strength. Freddie himself has admitted that the experience fundamentally changed him. He told MLB Network that if Max hadn't recovered, he would have retired. Period.
It puts a 0-for-4 night at the plate into perspective, doesn't it?
The reality of 2026 is that Freddie is 36 years old. He's been through two straight World Series runs and a massive family trauma. If he's choosing to skip the WBC to be with his family or handle "personal procedures," it’s hard to blame him. The guy spent the last year and a half balancing being the MVP of a World Series win with the stress of a child who had to relearn how to walk.
What You Can Learn From the Freemans
Honestly, the biggest takeaway here isn't about baseball. It's about advocacy. If Chelsea hadn't pushed back when the initial doctors said it was "just a hip thing," the outcome for Max could have been much darker.
If you're a parent and your kid has a sudden loss of motor skills or a weird limp after a virus, don't wait. GBS is rare, but it's fast.
The Freemans have turned their trauma into a way to help others. Their $1 million gift to CHOC helped fund the same PICU that stabilized Max when he was at his most critical. It’s a pretty incredible legacy for a kid who isn't even in kindergarten yet.
Max is reportedly "doing great" and even started playing Little League—something Chelsea wasn't sure would ever happen during those eight days in the ICU. He’s a fighter. And while Freddie might be taking some time off the field lately, it’s clear where his heart is.
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Next Steps for Support and Awareness:
- Educate yourself on GBS symptoms: Look for symmetrical weakness (both sides) and tingling that starts in the feet.
- Support Children's Hospitals: Organizations like CHOC rely on donations to provide the high-level neurological care Max received.
- Follow official updates: Stick to Chelsea Freeman’s social media or verified sports news for health updates to avoid the rumor mill regarding Freddie’s 2026 season status.