Minnesota Twins pitcher Kody Funderburk and his wife Alicia have shared an emotional story that turned their first pregnancy into a journey filled with fear, hope, and strength. What started as joyful news in September last year quickly became a serious medical challenge when Alicia was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while pregnant with their first child.
Diagnosis and Treatment During Pregnancy
The Twins organization shared the update and explained that Alicia began chemotherapy treatments during her pregnancy. It was a frightening time for the family, but doctors remained hopeful because the cancer was found early. Despite the difficult months, the couple stayed focused on treatment, family, and preparing for their baby's arrival.
Happy News Arrives
Thankfully, the story brought happy news this week. Alicia and Kody welcomed a healthy baby girl, Murphy Jo, on April 20. The left-handed reliever later returned to the Twins bullpen after spending time on the paternity list, while the family celebrated their newborn daughter and Alicia's positive recovery outlook.
Kody Funderburk Says Early Cancer Diagnosis Gave His Family Hope
The Minnesota Twins shared Alicia's diagnosis in an official statement while welcoming Kody Funderburk back from the paternity list. The team wrote, "Fundy is back from the Paternity List, and we want to take a moment to share more of his and his wife's story. While pregnant, Alicia, Kody's wife, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. After ongoing chemotherapy treatments, doctors are hopeful that she will make a full recovery."
Alicia later shared her emotions on Instagram Stories after the birth of Murphy Jo. According to the New York Post, she wrote, "We have been on cloud 9 these last few days, enjoying so many newborn snuggles. Thank you to everyone for all the prayers and support. It means the world to us."
In another Instagram post before delivery, Alicia opened up more about the unexpected journey. She wrote, "While this season of life has not looked how we imagined, Kody and I are beyond grateful for all the love, prayers and support around us. We have been constantly reminded of how blessed we are every step of the way." She also added, "Baby Fundy is already so loved and clearly already likes to keep things interesting. We cannot wait to meet them in a few days!"
Speaking to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Kody explained that the pregnancy may have helped doctors find the illness earlier than expected. He said, "We caught it early enough. It was just more about, 'OK, what do we need to do?'" He added, "Kind of like how baseball is, you kind of get to your process. 'OK, what is next?' 'OK, go execute that.' 'What is next?' 'OK, let us do that.'" Now, with baby Murphy Jo home and Alicia continuing recovery, the family has a reason to smile again.
