12-year-old sworn in as honorary sheriff ahead of organ transplant
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. oversaw the swearing-in ceremony of Wyatt Houppert on Tuesday, calling it an important event for everyone at the sheriff's office.
"Welcoming Wyatt Houppert as 'Sheriff for the Day' was a meaningful moment for our agency," Toulon said in a statement to "Good Morning America."
Son of sheriff's deputy sworn in on the same force as late father
Wyatt's mom, Devan Houppert, told "GMA" they found out in 2021 that Wyatt was born with one regular kidney and another "the size of a walnut" that "had never developed."
Houppert said doctors told them that over the years, Wyatt's one full-size kidney began to fail, and by February 2025, they learned both of Wyatt's kidneys had gone into failure, and he needed to be treated with hemodialysis and would eventually require a kidney transplant.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, hemodialysis is a treatment that helps the body filter water and waste from the bloodstream because the kidneys are unable to do so by themselves.
Despite having to undergo dialysis three to four times a week for at least four hours per session, Houppert said her son has not lost hope and has kept a positive outlook for months.
"Never for a second did he even consider it's not going to be OK," Houppert said. "It's always, 'We got this. Come on, let's just do it. Where's my kidney? Let's go right now.' And just so positive, just, 'It's going to be OK.'"
"Many times, me and my husband have been upset sitting there, and then we're looking at him, going, 'Wait a second, we have so much to learn from this child,'" she added. "Because he's sitting there with the best attitude."
Houppert said Dawn Rice, a family friend, volunteered to get evaluated to see if she could donate a kidney to Wyatt, and after testing, she said doctors surprised the family with the news that Rice was "a perfect match" for Wyatt.
Rice also happens to be the wife and sister of two corrections officers with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, which honored her as well at Wyatt's "sheriff for the day" ceremony.
"[Wyatt's] strength and courage are truly inspiring, and the selfless kidney donation by Dawn Rice reflects the compassion and unity of our Sheriff's Office family," Toulon said.
6-year-old with heart condition sworn in as honorary police officer
Houppert said her 12-year-old was "over the moon" to be "sheriff for the day."
"He's a very, like, stoic, serious guy. So when you get those smiles, and he's telling you, 'It's the best day ever,' you know that it really was," Houppert recalled.
"He definitely took his sheriff duties very seriously all day," she added. "It was so funny hearing him telling his older brother, 'Turn the TV up. I'm the sheriff. We have to get pizza for dinner. I'm the sheriff.'"
Wyatt is scheduled to undergo his kidney transplant at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone in New York City on Monday.
Dr. Marissa Lipton, a pediatric nephrologist in the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital, told "GMA" the kidney transplant will be life-changing for the boy.
"Wyatt is an incredible kid with a wonderfully supportive family and community behind him. Our entire team at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone is honored to care for him and support his family as he prepares for his transplant on Monday," Lipton said in an emailed statement.
"We're looking forward to getting him off dialysis. This transplant will truly change his life, and we're so grateful to his living donor for this incredible gift," Lipton added. "We can't wait to see Wyatt back to playing outside and enjoying his video games like any active 12-year-old."
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