Dancing TikTok Dad Finally Heading Home With Newborn Son Who Was in NICU

A few weeks back, we brought you the story of the dancing TikTik Dad, Chris Askew, and his family’s ongoing saga.
Chris and his wife Danielle have called the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital home for the past several weeks due to complications surrounding the birth of their son Dylan. Born two months premature, Dylan has been fighting for his life since day one, but thanks the hard work of medical professionals and the support of strangers, the family is now heading home.
To remain positive and pass the days, Chris vowed to post a dancing video each day his wife and son were still confined to the hospital. His first was posted from the nearby Ronald McDonald house where families often stay during extended hospital visits. What began with one single video back in mid-January has now grown to a full library of “daddy dance” clips.
@skewuDylan took a full feed last night and gained 32g with no alarms!##dancing4dylan ##babyaskewnicu ##thejtway ##adambamdance ##nicu ##nicubaby ##foryou ##dance♬ original sound – hamdisalahh
Chris telling local news affiliate WISN in Florida “I did it, just a silly thing, just to see,” referring to his first post, adding “And I woke up the next morning and I had 500,000 views on it.”
Inspired by the outpouring of support, Chirs, a Seminole County firefighter, continued as promised for the next several weeks, posting clips with nurses, his fellow firefighters and even the Orlando Magic Dancers.
While the dances started as a way for Chris and his family to stay positive, he also shared his hopes of helping others to open up about their own personal struggles. “Unless you’ve been through it, you can’t put into words how hard it is,” he shared. Now with over 75,000 followers, it’s safe to say his message of positivity has spread far and wide.
47 days and dances later, the family is going home. Chris telling Good Morning America it’s a great feeling. “I feel excited, I feel nervous…it’s like a roller coaster of emotions,” Chris said. “We can finally start being a family again.”
@skewuThank you Winnie Palmer Hospital! 48 dances and 50 days later you made our family whole again! ##dancing4dylan ##babyaskewnicu ##thejtway ##adambamdance♬ original sound – hamdisalahh
It’s amazing news for everyone who has been following their story, and of course for the family who now gets to find their new normal back at home. Dylan will be joining siblings Hunter,5, Nathan, 3, and CJ, just a year old.
Chris said his son has “been fighting since the day he was born,” adding “I know he’s going to be a strong little person once he gets older.”
Perhaps Chris will have a new dance partner in a few years? We can only hope.
Congratulations to the Askew family and kudos to the doctors and nurses who made it all possible.