Wyatt Houppert had one very important order as sheriff: pizza for dinner.
The 12-year-old from New York, who undergoes dialysis three to four times a week due to kidney failure, was sworn in as an honorary sheriff by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and he took the job very seriously.
“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,’” his mom, Devan Houppert, shared with GMA. “He definitely took his sheriff duties very seriously all day.”
Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. called the moment “meaningful” for everyone at the department, saying, “Welcoming Wyatt Houppert as ‘Sheriff for the Day’ was a meaningful moment for our agency.”
Wyatt’s diagnosis is serious: born with one underdeveloped kidney, he now requires regular hemodialysis treatments and is set to receive a transplant. But the bright spot? A family friend, Dawn Rice, turned out to be a perfect match.
“[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.
Rice, who is both the wife and sister of Suffolk County corrections officers, was honored alongside Wyatt at the ceremony.
And even with everything Wyatt’s been through, he’s still a source of light. “Never for a second did he even consider it’s not going to be OK,” his mom said. “We have so much to learn from this child.”
The transplant is scheduled for Monday at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, where Dr. Marissa Lipton says, “This transplant will truly change his life… 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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