Rob Burrow’s wife Lindsey reveals rugby league legend ‘came back from the dead’ to allow loved ones to say goodbye amid motor neurone disease heartbreak
Rob Burrow ‘came back from the dead’ just days before his eventual passing last year, his wife Lindsey has revealed.
Burrow died aged 41 last June, five years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease and just two years after calling time on a glittering career.
A fan favourite, Burrow won eight Super League titles across with Leeds across a 17-year career.
After his diagnosis, he dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community, receiving support from his old Leeds team-mate Kevin Sinfield.
Now, in an touching interview with The Sun, his wife Linsdey has opened up on the family’s journey over the five years from when they first identified something was wrong with his health.
She has a memoir coming out later this month called ‘Take Care: A Memoir Of Love, Family & Never Giving Up’.
Rob Burrow’s wife Lindsey says he ‘came back to life’ just days before his eventual death
The rugby league icon passed away last year aged 41 after his battle with motor neurone disease
Kevin Sinfield was able to say a final goodbye after Burrow’s Lazarus syndrome
Burrow died on June 2, and Lindsey has told how Burrow effectively died and came back to life on May 30, giving them and Sinfield more precious moments to say goodbye.
‘As I sat in the corner of Rob’s hospital room with Jackson, watching Ghostbusters together on a little DVD player, my husband suddenly started to struggle to breathe,’ she said.
‘Doctors and nurses rushed in as his oxygen levels and heart rate took a dive. We expected to lose him, and a consultant advised us to say goodbye. I couldn’t quite believe it.
‘Except, being Rob Burrow, he rallies again, giving us time to make special memories.
‘Two sets of blood tests had been assessed that the doctors said showed Rob had come through something called Lazarus syndrome.
‘I didn’t understand it at first but, then, it sounded miraculous. It occurs when blood circulation returns spontaneously after the heart stops beating. The blood tests told us that, just after lunchtime, Rob had basically come back from the dead.’
That same evening, Sinfield, who had raised more than £7million for MND charities dropped by to say a heartbreaking goodbye.
‘At Pinderfields, Kev gave Rob a cuddle as he gently ribbed him. Beneath the gentle humour, Kev knew it was time to say goodbye when Rob began to look exhausted.
‘Kev leaned down to kiss Rob on his damp forehead. “I love you pal,” he said. Then Kev slowly turned away. He knew he would never see Rob again.’
