Chris and Ryan Zubrick, professional illusionists known for their family-friendly magic shows, captured the hearts of the Gays With Kids community with their touching journey to fatherhood through surrogacy. The couple’s story, featured on Gays With Kids, highlighted their journey to fatherhood while balancing the demands of their performing careers. However, their magical life in St Petersburg recently took a devastating turn when Hurricane Milton struck, wreaking havoc on their home and livelihood.
Chris and Ryan’s love story began over a shared passion for magic. While living and working abroad in Guam, they became dads with the help of incredible family members and wonderful friends before settling down in St Petersburg, Florida. (Read their story here.)
Between their stage performances and roles as fathers, they had found a harmonious balance in life—until Hurricane Milton swept through their piece of paradise.
When Hurricane Milton made landfall in St Petersburg, Chris and Ryan braced for the worst. The storm was going to be one of the most powerful in years. Winds exceeding 140 miles per hour battered the Zubricks’ home. The hurricane’s ferocity left significant flooding and structural damage in its wake.
The Zubricks evacuated before the hurricane but upon returning, they discovered their home was filled with water. It is uninhabitable and will need to be entirely rebuilt from the inside.
For Chris and Ryan, the emotional impact of seeing their recently purchased home destroyed was profound. Their son’s bedroom, a place they had lovingly designed for him, was severely damaged. Personal belongings, including irreplaceable memorabilia from their life as illusionists, were lost to water damage.
They’ve managed to pack up everything that was salvageable and everything else has been thrown out. Chris, Ryan, and their son have temporarily moved into their theater with air mattresses set up on the stage and they will be living here until they find a more permanent solution.
Of course, this has had a huge impact on their small business. Between the lack of electricity and all their things taking up space, performances are not possible.
“It’s difficult to imagine performing shows when others are facing similar challenges,” Chris said.
The Zubricks’ path to rebuilding will be challenging, both emotionally and financially. In addition to repairing their home, their source of income is at risk.
Chris took to Instagram and shared a video update on their Zubrick Magic account as well as their personal family profile, @daddy_papa_and_me.
In the video, Chris says, “We’re coming to you to ask for help. Ryan and I are ashamed, we don’t like to ask for help, but we need your help. Please, if you are willing and able and would like, go our website and buy a ticket to a future performance.”
“Magic is our passion,” Chris continued. “We love nothing more to be on stage and share our magic with our community. But it’s also our livelihood and if we’re not performing it’s very, very difficult.”
“So to help bridge that gap between now and the time we can resume our normal business operations, we ask that you go buy a ticket to a future performance.”
Other ways folks can help is to buy a gift certificate through their website, or even donate directly here.
“Any help you can provide we greatly appreciated it. Thank you for all the messages and calls you have sent us. It is truly heartwarming, and we can’t thank you enough for being so encouraging and supportive of Ryan and I.”
For updates on Chris and Ryan’s recovery efforts or to learn more about how to support their family, visit their social media channels or their website.
