Emotional viewers were left in tears at heartbreaking scenes which aired in the Rob and Lindsey: Living with MND documentary on ITV on Thursday night.
Powerful footage showed how Lindsey Burrow takes care of her husband and rugby league legend Rob Burrow. The former sports star, who has motor neurone disease, is being cared for by his devoted wife Lindsey after the devastating diagnosis.
In one scene, Lindsey, who is Rob's full-time carer, said: You just want to do what you can, while you can, for as long as you can. He’s my husband, I want to care for him."
Read more: Rob Burrow's wife Lindsey carries him around home as she reveals they have shunned carers
Rob was initially given two years to live following his MND diagnosis in 2019, and today refuses to hear a prognosis. Lindsey explains her husband has now lost all ability to talk, and retains no voluntary movement control, except with his eyes, which he uses to spell messages on a screen.
He struggles to swallow, so she must feed him only liquidised food, and some nights uses a ventilator to help reduce high levels of carbon dioxide in his body. The build-up in MND sufferers whose breathing muscles struggle to function, can lead to death.
Viewers struggled to watch the hard-hitting documentary on Thursday night, but were full of praise for the incredible couple and their family. Twitter user @SophieP25397 said: "Watching the Rob Burrow documentary. I turned it over. I was filling up. Horrible, Horrible illness. A guy on my parent street died with it. I tell you if anybody who should be knighted it is Kevin Sinfield."
User @thomasoxley said: "Absolutely bawling at the Rob Burrow’s documentary! What an amazing chap he is! I’d love a friend like Kevin Sinfield! That’s a true friend. Love to Rob’s wife too. She’s ones strong woman!"
@clancy3105 added: "You think you’re having a bad day and then you watch a programme like this and you realise how lucky you actually are to have your health! #RobBurrow #MND.
While @PaulHiggsRadio said: "Painfully sad watching tonight's programme on Rob Burrow and his condition deterioration. Wife Lindsey is the ultimate superwoman - her incredible dedication and strength in supporting Rob and the children is on another level. #itvtonight."
Another viewer said: "Mum is watching this documentary about an english rugby player called rob burrow and i had to rush out of the room because i started crying. what a cruel disease MND is. his wife is a saint caring for him the way she does."
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