Lindsey Burrow has revealed the touching way her late husband showed his love for her during his heartbreaking battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
Former rugby star Rob Burrow, who was paralysed and unable to communicate in the years after his diagnosis, tragically died aged 41 last June at Pinderfields Hospital in Yorkshire.
Ahead of the release of her upcoming memoir, Take Care, Lindsey has recalled how her late husband upheld a positive outlook throughout his battle with the disease.
The couple also maintained an optimistic and present approach in the years following Rob’s diagnosis, with the goal of making happy memories with their children.
The 41-year-old said it was the power of their love that got them through tough times, and told how Rob would use his eyes and equipment to message her ‘I love you, darling,’ or, Have a great day,’ or ‘I can’t wait to see you,’ if she was at work.
Elsewhere, Lindsey discussed her late husband’s journey with the disease and how it impacted her children, Macy 12, Maya, eight, and Jackson, four.
‘The emotional part for me was that MND robbed Rob of being the dad he wanted to be to our three children,’ she told The Times.
She added: ‘He couldn’t read them a bedtime story or kick a ball about with Jackson as he got older, so that was hard for me emotionally. But it never changed my love for Rob.’
Lindsey Burrow has revealed the most emotional aspect of her late husband’s battle with MND (pictured with their children Macy and Maya)
In her new book, Lindsey has revealed how her family was determined to make important memories with Rob in the lead up to his death on June 2 last year.
The couple’s three children painted their father’s fingers with rainbow-coloured ink to add his fingerprints into their memory book.
Macy and Maya spent the previous months rehearsing for a musical show that fell on day of Rob’s death, but he insisted they still went.
When they returned to the hospital they showed their father a recording of the performance, which ‘really lifted’ Rob and put a ‘big smile’ on his face,’ Lindsey said.
The mother-of-three recalled how Rob’s health started to deteriorate further in March last year, which made his texts confusing to comprehend, and by May he was unable to messages her at all.
Weeks before his death Lindsey said she sensed her family had entered a ‘dark zone, a limbo between life and death’.
Lindsey struggled to see her former rugby player husband be ‘robbed of being the dad he wanted’
The mother-of-three said Rob always maintained a positive outlook (seen at Windsor Castle before Rob received an MBE at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, on April 5, 2022
However, Rob kept still going on days out with his family and, believing they were on borrowed time, Lindsey carried him from his downstairs room to their home cinema room so he could watch a movie with their children.
The following day he went into hospital for the last time.
Lindsey and Rob were childhood sweethearts with a love story beginning when they were both 15.
She previously said in a BBC documentary that there was never any doubt they would marry – even though her dad had urged her to marry someone tall. But she fell for 5ft5ins Rob, and said they had the ‘perfect life’ together.
She said: ‘There was never going to be anyone else I was going to marry. I knew it from the start. He treated me like a princess. It was love at first sight. It can be a cliché, but it was true for me’.
Rob was diagnosed with MND in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-season league career. He won eight Super League titles with Leeds Rhinos but after being diagnosed with the illness, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community.
His courage and fundraising efforts saw him be awarded an MBE in 2022. Last January, he and former rugby teammate Kevin Sinfield, received CBE honours from Prince William.
The pair, who both played for Leeds Rhinos, raised £16million together after Rob’s diagnosis.
Pictured: The Prince of Wales met Rob Burrow, Lindsey Burrow and their children Maya (left), Macy and Jackson during a visit to Headingley Stadium, Leeds, to congratulate him and award him a CBE for his efforts to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease
Their touching bond was evident when Kevin carried his friend over the finish line at the Leeds Marathon in 2023 – having pushed him in a wheelchair during the gruelling run.
The pair were clearly emotional as they crossed the finish line to huge cheers from the watching crowds.
Kevin was photographed as he gave his former teammate a kiss of affection to mark the moment they crossed the line.
Rob said at the time: ‘The Marathon was one of the most important and special events I’ve done and meant so many things to so many people.
‘But for me, it was about friendship and crossing the finish line with my mate Kev will live with me forever and it created a platform to raise funds and awareness for MND charities’.
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