Every now and then, a story comes along that keeps things in perspective.

A story that serves as a reminder that the Cubs community is much, much bigger than baseball.

Nine-year-old Ryker Colón has a rare form of muscular dystrophy that has confined him to a wheelchair. There are only 23 other documented cases of the unnamed disorder, which is a mutation in his JAG2 gene.

It’s a tough life for Ryker and his family, but the Cubs provide a necessary – and powerful – outlet. And for one day at least, the Colóns got to experience a bit of an escape as they enjoyed a day on Wrigley Field during the team’s last homestand.

Ryker got to play catch on the field with Pete Crow-Armstrong, whom Ryker calls his favorite player because “he’s freaking fast.”

“We’ve been to many games and I don’t know if a day will top this day,” Eddie Colón said. “The smile on his face as the players came out – it was awesome. It’s been a great day.”

[WATCH: Ryker and his family enjoy a day at Wrigley Field with Cubs fans]

The entire Colón family lives and breathes Cubs baseball and Ryker is no different. At home before games, he draws pictures of the baseball field and does his best Craig Counsell impression, coming up with his own lineups for the Cubs roster that day.

When Ryker was first diagnosed with the form of muscular dystrophy, he had to wear a helmet for safety concerns. To help their son adjust, Ryker’s parents (Eddie and Brandi) painted a Cubs “C” on the helmet.

“He’s very happy. He’s a jokester; he’s a comedian,” Eddie said. “He’s loving, he’s caring. He’s awesome. As many obstacles as he has had and he has coming in the near future, yeah, he knows he’s different but he doesn’t let that stop him. He’s amazing. He’s fun to be around.”

The Colón family had to endure a lot. When Ryker started approaching toddler age, they recognized something was wrong. They endured years of tests – first at the University of Iowa near their home in Muscatine, Iowa and then later at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

“It’s a little discouraging just because there’s not answers,” Eddie said. “We went through a period of time where we even stopped going to the doctor just ’cause it was so emotionally draining.

“At that time, we were driving to the Mayo [Clinic], which is 4 hours one way. So it’s emotionally draining for us, for him. He knew where we were going. After the first couple times, he knew the route so he knew we were going to the doctor. Getting poked most of his life, it was hard for him.”

While the Colón family still doesn’t have much in the way of answers, they’ve learned to adjust with Ryker. He needs help doing everything, which is a lot of lifting for his parents.

“It’s difficult, but we survive,” Eddie said.

And the Cubs are a big part of how they survive.

The Colón family partnered with Club 400 to create “Team Ryker” wristbands several years back and Ryker and his brother, Aramis (named after Aramis Ramírez, of course), stake out Cubs players arriving to the ballpark and hand wristbands to each guy walking by.

Early in the 2023 season, Ryker handed a wristband to Dansby Swanson and a year-and-a-half later, the Cubs shortstop still wears it every day.

“This will be on here ’til it breaks and then I’ll have to get another one,” Swanson said. “I take my wedding ring off, I don’t even take this band off.”

Ryker and his family got to interact with most of the Cubs roster last weekend, including several minutes chatting with Swanson.

When it was announced the Cubs would open the 2025 season in Japan, the Colóns had a special celebration of their own as they understood that it meant the “Team Ryker” wristband would also likely be making the trip to Japan on Swanson’s arm.

Ryker closely watches every Cubs game and gets excited whenever he sees the Cubbie blue “Team Ryker” wristband on one of the players.

“It’s cool,” Eddie said. “The smile on Ryker’s face every time he sees it and on Aramis’ [face]. We’ll have family and friends see it on social [media] whenever you see a player with it and they’re like, they still have it on.

“Even now, Ryker still gets excited and Dansby’s had it on for a year-and-a-half now. It doesn’t get old, that’s for sure.”

The first Cubs player to sport the band was Frank Schwindel.

The former Cubs first baseman and cult hero met the Colóns at a Club 400 event and have kept in touch ever since. Schwindel sends gifts for Ryker and Aramis at birthdays and holidays and they regularly check in with each other.

“I consider him family,” Eddie said of Schwindel. “He’s awesome. He’s been amazing.”

Schwindel’s run with the Cubs ended in the middle of the 2022 season and he has since bounced around from the Dominican Republic to Japan to the Atlantic League in Independent ball.

All the while, Schwindel and the Colóns keep in touch.

“Just an amazing family,” Schwindel said. “Can’t stress enough how much support they’ve shown me, so it’s nice to support them as well.

“It’s awesome how much we have an impact on them, let alone how much they have an impact on me as well. It’s special.”

To donate to the cause, you can head here. You can fill out “#TeamRyker” in the Special Instructions box to directly fund his unnamed form of muscular dystrophy.

And be sure to catch the full look at Ryker’s special day at Wrigley Field on the Marquee Sports Network app.