What should have been one of the happiest moments of their lives quickly turned into a nightmare for Minnesota Twins pitcher Kody Funderburk and his wife, Alicia.
The couple found out they were expecting their first child in September—but just as they began celebrating, everything changed. Shortly after learning she was pregnant, Alicia was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that would turn their journey into a fight on two fronts: for her health and their baby’s future.
The Twins organization later shared the emotional story, revealing that Alicia underwent chemotherapy while pregnant. Despite the terrifying circumstances, doctors remained hopeful throughout her treatment.
And then came the moment they had been holding onto.
On April 20, the couple welcomed a healthy baby girl, Murphy Jo—bringing a wave of relief and joy after months of uncertainty.
In the days following the birth, Alicia shared a heartfelt update, saying she and her husband had been “on cloud 9,” soaking in every moment with their newborn.
“Thank you to everyone for all the prayers and support. It means the world to us,” she wrote.
Looking back on the journey, Alicia admitted it was nothing like what they had imagined—but it also showed them just how much support surrounded them.
“While this season of life hasn’t looked how we imagined, Kody and I are beyond grateful for all the love, prayers and support,” she shared. “We’ve been constantly reminded of how blessed we are every step of the way.”
Kody also opened up about how the timing may have ultimately helped save her life. Because of the pregnancy, doctors were able to catch the cancer earlier than they otherwise might have.
“We caught it early enough,” he said. “It was just about, ‘What do we need to do next?’ Just taking it step by step.”
Now, after months of fear, treatment, and resilience, the couple is finally able to focus on what matters most—time with their baby girl.
Funderburk has since returned to the mound after being activated from the paternity list, but it’s clear his biggest win didn’t happen on the field.
It happened at home.