Ryker's mom describes him as "a bit of an adrenaline junkie."
In his daily life, he likes riding bikes, jumping on his trampoline and spending time with his siblings. He explored his wish options online and discovered photos of a wish kid swimming in a cage surrounded by sharks.
He knew then what he wanted to wish for. "I love sharks," he wrote. "And it would be so awesome to see them up close and be in the water with them." "But in a protective cage," he added. Although cystic fibrosis causes breathing problems, Ryker's doctor cleared him for snorkeling.
In September 2022, Ryker and family experienced a cage-diving shark tour just off the coast of Oahu. During the tour, the cage was lowered into shark-infested waters where Ryker could view the sharks (mostly Galapagos and sandbar sharks) and other marine life from the safety of the cage. But that wasn't the only activity they did on the trip; Ryker and his family also rode ziplines over the jungle canopy and attended a luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
“Swimming with sharks was awesome! Ryker said it was everything that he’d hoped for! And the people who run the operation were really great too. This feels like the trip of a lifetime for our family, and we are so grateful,” said wish mom Kim.
