3-year-old cancer patient sworn in as America’s youngest sheriff
3-year-old cancer patient sworn in as Americas youngest sheriff
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IndyStar
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IndyStar
On Thursday, 3-year-old cancer patient Wyatt Schmaltz was sworn in as the nations youngest special sheriff deputy from his hospital room in Indianapolis.
In April, Wyatt was diagnosed with aggressive, stage 4 neuroblastoma and has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy. Soon, hell undergo surgery to remove a tumor from his abdomen and he will also undergo a stem cell transplant.
As a tribute to his courage throughout his treatments, an Indiana sheriff and a state trooper visited Wyatt at his room in Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, giving him the powers of a sheriff deputy as well as a badge and uniform. Terry Stoffel, a sheriff for Huntington County, noted that the title is an official designation.
"We have given Wyatt all the powers of a real sheriff deputy, which are to carry out the orders of the sheriff. Right now, his only orders are to get better, Stoffel said.
According to doctors at Riley Hospital, such acts of kindness can really help to make children well again.
"Gestures like this really aid the healing process for our patients," said Dr. Michele Saysana, a pediatrician with Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. "It brought tears to our team members eyes to see officers, who are sworn to protect and serve, travel to pay tribute to one of our patients."
After being sworn in, Wyatt asked: What else do you have?
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I'm so glad to see that these people cared enough to make this little guy so happy!!
Oh, look at that little face. He is so happy. They even got him a little uniform. He looks so sweet and happy in that shirt with a star on the shoulder. It's so painful to watch young people suffer as much as this little guy has suffered. You know he has to feel horrible from all the chemo.
Great article, Tzia. Thanks.
Thanks Grump..when I find a "Good News" article, I do my best to post it. There is too much hate and sadness out there. "It brought tears to our team members eyes to see officers, who are sworn to protect and serve, travel to pay tribute to one of our patients."There is nothing that can compare to "Happy Tears"
Tzia hangs her head in shame, and smacks her forehead....don't tell anyone, but I forgot I already belong to that group...sshhh..
But only on Wednesdays.
Tzia hangs head and smacks forehead again.. oops...I just posted it a few minutes ago. Should I take it down and post it again on Wednesday?
Great move by the Sheriff. The smile on the kids face is priceless.
You posted it in a different group. Join Good News Wednesdays.
(now Tzia kicks herself in the butt)
What a wonderful feeling the Sherriff must have had to do something so kind for a very sick child. I'll bet that act of kindness really touched the parents too.
OK....this time I really did it!!
He's smiling but his little eyes are full of pain.