This week, a 12-year-old New York boy with kidney failure was sworn as honorary sheriff.
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. oversaw the Wyatt Hooppert oath ceremony on Tuesday, calling it an important event for everyone at the Sheriff's Office.
“Welcome Wyatt Houppert as the “sheriff of the day” was a meaningful moment for our agency,” Toulon said in a statement on “Good Morne America.”
Wyatt Hooppert, 12, was sworn in as honorary sheriff by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office on July 22, 2025.
Suffolk County Sheriff's Office
Wyatt's mother, Devan Hooppert, found out in 2021 that “GMA” and that Wyatt was born in a “walnut size that has never been developed” with a normal kidney and another kidney.
Over the years, doctors learned that Wyatt's full-size kidneys began to fail, and by February 2025, both of his Wyatt's kidneys had failed, and that he would need to treat him with hemodialysis and ultimately a kidney transplant.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Gastrointestinal Diseases and Kidney Diseases, hemodialysis is a treatment that helps filter the body's water and discard it from the bloodstream, as the kidneys cannot do it on their own.
Wyatt Hooppert, 12, was sworn in as honorary sheriff by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office on July 22, 2025.
Suffolk County Sheriff's Office
Despite having to undergo dialysis three to four times a week for at least four hours per session, Houppert said his son has not lost hope and has continued to be positive for several months.
“He never even thought it was okay,” Huppert said. “It's always like, 'We've got this. Let's do it. Where is my kidneys? Let's go now.' And just so positive, it's “it's ok.” ”
Wyatt Hooppert, 12, was sworn in as honorary sheriff by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office on July 22, 2025.
Suffolk County Sheriff's Office
“Many times, me and my husband were sitting there and upset, and we look at him and say, 'Wait a minute, we have a lot to learn from this kid,'” she added. “Because he's sitting there with his best attitude.”
Houppert said family friend Dawn Rice was evaluated to see if his kidneys could be donated to Wyatt, and after the test, doctors said they surprised the family with the news that Rice was the “perfect match” for Wyatt.
Rice is also the wife and sister of two corrections officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, honoring her at Wyatt's “Sheriff” ceremony.
12-year-old Wyatt, Dawn Rice, and a family friend who has donated his kidneys to him.
Courtesy of Devan Houppert
“[Wyatt’s] The strength and courage are truly inspiring, and Dawn Rice's selfless kidney donation reflects the compassion and unity of the family in the sheriff's office,” Toulon said.
Houppert said her 12-year-old “over the moon” to become “the sheriff of the day.”
“He's a very, stoic, serious guy. So when you get those smiles, you know it was really the case when he says, 'It's the best day ever,'” Houppert recalls.
“He definitely took his sheriff duties very seriously all day,” she added. “It was so funny to hear him say it to my brother.
Wyatt is scheduled to undergo a kidney transplant at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital in NYU Langone in New York City on Monday.
Dr. Marissa Lipton, a pediatric nephrologist at the Hassenfeld Children's Hospital's pediatric kidney transplant program, told GMA that kidney transplants will change the life of a boy.
“Wyatt is an incredible child with the wonderfully supportive family and community behind him. The entire team at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital in Nyu Langone is honoured to take care of him and support his family as he prepares for his transplant on Monday.”
“We look forward to taking him off dialysis. This transplant will really change his life, and we are so grateful for this incredible gift to his living donor,” Lipton added. “I can't wait to see Wyatt play outside and enjoy his video games like an active 12-year-old.”
