For most kids, riding in the bucket of a ladder fire truck would be the thrill of a lifetime. But for 12-year-old Wyatt Houppert, the ride was much more than just exciting—it was a powerful reminder that his community stands firmly behind him.

Wyatt’s family says, in February, his life took a drastic turn when doctors discovered he had double kidney failure.

Since then, he’s endured dialysis three times a week.

When family friend Dawn Rice heard the devastating news, she didn’t hesitate.

“I said, 'Alright, I'll go get tested,'” she recalled. “It was a perfect match.” Her decision brought hope and the promise of a kidney transplant, expected sometime in mid to late July.

“It was like feeling I could breathe again,” said Wyatt’s mother, Devan Houppert.

To honor his bravery and bring joy amid medical challenges, the Hauppauge Fire District welcomed Wyatt and his family to an afternoon at the Hauppauge Fire Department headquarters.

Wyatt had a hands-on look of the trucks, even controlling lights and sirens on a ride around the neighborhood.

“This is what we’re here for. We’re here beyond the 911 calls... If we could do this for Wyatt and his family, it means a whole lot to us," said Fire Commissioner Scott Munro.

Throughout the challenges of the past few months, Wyatt has stayed positive.

“He’s always been just, ‘OK, let’s do it. Let’s get it done,'” says his mom.