Rob Burrow's wife unveiled the moment they told their children about their father's disease and the courage they found to speak at his funeral five years later.
Sitting their two daughters after dinner time, the couple explained Rob's condition to them. In the beginning the news did not seem to phase them.
Maya, the young person of the two girls, asked: 'Why do you tell us all this? It's boring. Can we watch some TV? . '
The innocent reaction left the family in laugh when Lindsey Burrow says it has “demonstrated” their “fear and fear.”
Later that evening, Macy, who is four years older than her sister, had taken some time to absorb the news and her mother asked “Dad is going to die?”
Lindsey did not want to lie and explained that the disease would eventually take her father's life.
Writing in her new book Par A cautious thing, which is selected by the sun, Lindsey told how she tried to comfort her children who told them that their father is a “determined person and would do everything he could to take care of himself.”
Rob was diagnosed with MND in 2019, only two years after his retirement from a 17-season competition career. He died last year on 2 June after developing pneumonia, unable to communicate and paralyzed by MND.
Rob Burrow posed with his wife Lindsey (left), oldest daughter Macy (back to the right), second daughter Maya (right right) and son Jackson (sitting on the arm of the wheelchair)
Rob van Leeds Rhinos with his children after the testimony of Jamie Jones-Buchanan in January 2020
Lindsey and Rob's daughters, Macy and Maya
He won eight Super League titles with Leeds Rhinos, but after the diagnosis of the disease he devoted himself to increasing consciousness and funds for the MND community.
His funeral took place five days after his death in a private service in the Pontefract Crematorium and was attended by 161 invited guests, including his three children, Macy, 13, Maya, Nine and Jackson, six.
Guests were seen that special rugby -ball -shaped badges with 'Rob 7' on – a nod to his previous song.
Cups, including young Ruby players from Burrow's Boyhood Club Featherstone Lions, held along the route with many with shirts with his name and number.
Lindsey took this moment to let her children how admired their father was as Macy asks her 'Why did it have to be my father? . '
She proudly writes about the brave moment when her two daughters spoke in the funeral.
Maya says: “Thank you, everyone, for the adding to celebrate the lives of our wonderful father.”
While Macy opened about how her father was their 'number one fan' who 'always had a smile on his face'.
Lindsey Burrow depicted with her husband Rob and their three children in a holiday village in 2021
Rob's funeral Cortege arrives in the crematorium with 'dad' was set out in white flowers
The former Leeds Rhinos star in action during the Carnegie Challenge Cup final in 2010
'Thank you for being our father and takes care of us. You are without a doubt the most brave, beloved father in the whole world. I hope I grow up to be like you, “she went on.
Maya added: 'We know that you will be with us every step. Dad, you will continue to inspire us every day. '
Rob's courage and fundraising efforts saw him get an MBE in 2022. Last January he and former rugby teammate Kevin Sinfield CBE received awards from Prince William.
The couple, both played for Leeds Rhinos, brought £ 16 million together after Rob's diagnosis.
Their moving band was clear when Kevin crossed his friend's finish line at the Leeds Marathon in 2023- after he had pushed him into a wheelchair during the debilitating run.
Prince William, Prince of Wales meets the former Robby League player Rob Burrow to congratulate him on enlarging the consciousness of motor neuron disease and in 2024 with the commander of the British Empire (CBE)
Kevin was one of the mourners who gathered in the crematorium prior to the moving service.
He received compassionate leave from the tour of England through Nieuw -Zeeland to make the more than 11,000 miles back home.
Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington was accompanied by Rob's former teammates, including Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Ryan Hall and Jamie Peacock, who supplied the late star when they played for England.
Rob won eight Grand Finals, three world club challenges and two challenge cups for Leeds Rhinos and 15 caps for England.
