Inside Rob Burrow’s five-year battle with Motor Neurone Illness from first signs to selfless household want as rugby star dies aged 41

Inspirational former rugby participant Rob Burrow has handed away on the age of 41 following a battle with motor neurone illness, Leeds Rhinos have introduced. 

Burrow was identified with the illness in 2019, simply two years after retiring from a 17-season league profession.

The athlete represented each England and Nice Britain throughout his spectacular 16-year lengthy profession and made greater than 100 appearances between 2001 and 2017. 

In addition to being one of many UK’s most profitable rugby stars, he was additionally a fierce campaigner, elevating consciousness for MND alongside together with his buddy and former teammate Kevin Sinfield. 

Tributes have flooded in for the athlete and father-of three after his five-year battle. 

Burrow was identified with the degenerative situation in 2019 and mentioned that he first began to expertise signs whereas at an awards present. 

The athlete revealed that he began slurring his speech on the Leeds Rhinos occasion and his caring teammates inspired him to see a physician. 

After the appointment, Burrow was identified and his household revealed of their ITV documentary Lindsey & Rob: Residing With MND that the information got here as an entire shock.

He defined that he went for an MRI scan and blood exams which got here again clear main the household to be fairly optimistic however then a neurologist delivered a devastating blow.

However he mentioned: ‘It’s not excellent news. I’m sorry to inform you it’s motor neurone illness.’

He mentioned: ‘After I was identified, I believe I took it higher than Lyns. I believe I used to be simply blissful for it to be me and never anybody else in my household.’ 

Regardless of his prognosis, the previous athlete insisted on dwelling his life to the fullest.

On an look on This Morning final 12 months he mentioned: ‘I refuse to provide in. I’ll battle and battle to my final breath, I exploit positivity to get me by means of. Generally, even when issues are laborious, I prefer to crack a joke and make everybody snigger.

‘After I was identified I used to be terrified, however I quickly realised I might management how I’d strategy my scenario mentally.’ 

Final 12 months in a coronary heart wrenching documentary, the previous rugby star confirmed what daily life was like for him and his household.

In 2023, Burrow had considerably deteriorated from his sporting self just some years earlier. 

Only a 12 months earlier than his loss of life, Burrow weighed simply seven stone, was non-verbal and will solely eat liquidised meals spoon fed to him by his spouse Lindsey.

He additionally needed to sleep downstairs and a few nights required a ventilator to lower excessive ranges of carbon dioxide in his physique.

However whereas the bodily adjustments proved difficult for the household, Burrow revealed that the toughest half was the toll the illness had taken on him being a father.

‘The toughest factor for me shouldn’t be having the ability to be the dad I need to be,’ Rob, who operates a pc together with his eyes to speak, mentioned on the programme.

‘I’d give something to have the ability to kick a ball with my son or learn the youngsters a bedtime story. It is the small issues and issues that always we take with no consideration that having MND makes you admire,’ he added.

Rob’s decided spouse refuses help from carers and tools, as a substitute carrying him round their house and from his wheelchair to the automobile.

Talking on the documentary, she vowed to proceed taking care of her beloved husband ‘whereas I am bodily in a position’, including: ‘I do know he’d do the identical for me’.

Lindsey informed The Mirror: ‘We haven’t actually mentioned the choice of carers. We don’t need ­stairlifts, hoists and issues, for me it will probably turn into fairly scientific.

The daddy-of-three additionally praised his spouse, who sorted him and their kids whereas working part-time as a physiotherapist for the NHS.

‘I’m extraordinarily pleased with Lindsey. I’ve nothing however admiration for her. With out her, I would not be right here right now,’ he mentioned on the time.

‘You simply need to do what you may, whilst you can, for so long as you may. He’s my husband, I need to look after him. You say these vows, in illness and in well being, that’s what you need to do. 

‘He’ll typically say: “Thanks for taking care of me, I wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for you doing these items.” I understand how grateful he’s.’

Rob mentioned the documentary was made with a really small staff of people that have been there ‘because the begin.’

He defined: ‘So many individuals really feel just like the prognosis is the tip for them. However it’s not.

‘I needed to indicate that you just needn’t cover away, or keep at house or be fearful of going out. You possibly can nonetheless stay each single day.

‘That’s my philosophy and it is actually easy.

‘I really feel for the people who find themselves damaged by the phrases “you will have MND”.

‘I do know I used to be for some time. So I hope I can present them that there’s a manner you may stay with this. If I can assist one individual then I really feel like our movie has executed its job.’

The couple have been married for 17 years and first met when the previous rugby league star was a ‘shy’ 15-year-old.

The previous rugby participant was given two years to stay following his prognosis and final 12 months he was struggling in opposition to having no voluntary motion management except for his eyes, which he used to spell messages on a display screen and inform his spouse ‘he could not be extra proud’.

However Lindsey admited: ‘I don’t suppose he can actually get any worse.’

Burrow surpassed medical expectations although, dwelling for 5 years after his prognosis, appreciating every single day wile being supported by his kids, spouse and oldsters. 

Lindsey mentioned Rob launched a ‘no tear’ coverage early on in his prognosis and added that the household managed to stay to it ‘more often than not.’

‘There are events the place we often break the coverage, however that was Rob’s want, that we supply on life as regular, we stay every single day to it is fullest and simply make as many blissful recollections as a household as we will,’ she mentioned.

She has additionally opened up about asking her husband questions round his funeral needs, with Rob telling her she is ‘nonetheless younger’ and ‘ought to discover another person’.

Lindsey has additionally praised former teammate Kevin Sinfield, and mentioned he needs to be awarded a knighthood for his fundraising efforts.

Rob was carried throughout the end line on the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon by Sinfield final 12 months after being pushed across the 26-mile course in a wheelchair.

The pair had been elevating cash for MND charities and used a specially-adapted chair to hitch 12,500 different runners within the first Leeds marathon in 20 years.

Rugby coach Sinfield has raised greater than £8.5million for MND charities since his buddy and former team-mate Burrow was identified with the situation.

The 42-year-old additionally accomplished his Extremely 7 in 7 Problem in November when he ran seven back-to-back ultra-marathons, working round 40 miles every day.

Burrows helped increase £15m for charity and a few of that cash went in direction of a brand new care centre for MND in Leeds. 

The staunch campaigner, alongside fellow MND sufferer Stephen Darby went to Downing Road to induce the Prime Minister to inject more money into discovering a treatment.

Their campaigning proved profitable after the Authorities agreed to make £50million out there for analysis.

Burrow handed away at Pinderfields Hospital close to his house surrounded by his household after turning into ailing earlier within the week.