In the summer of 2024, Nicole Cicchetti’s life changed in a way she didn’t expect when she became a foster mom to a family friend’s child.
Nicole’s friend had a child who was being removed by CPS and when she learned what was happening, the decision to step in was immediate. Nicole has been a mom since she was 19 and really feels like motherhood is her passion.
“We knew we did not want the child to be placed in a state licensed home and should be with us and her biological family who we are very close to,” Nicole said. “It was a long road and is a long story how that went but… she ended up coming home to us when she was 4 months old.”
And since then, Nicole and her family have since adopted the little girl.
As life would have it, her family was given another opportunity to foster another little girl – their daughter’s biological sister. Again, the answer was easy. Keeping siblings together was incredibly important to Nicole. The little girl came home from NICU at just one month old in October 2025, and today she is thriving.
“Things couldn’t be going any better,” Nicole said. “These girls are such a joy to us. They were the missing pieces we didn’t even know we needed.”
The family already had a full house with four children before this. And while they felt “complete,” Nicole said her three boys and one daughter have embraced their new sisters with so much love. Every day, the kids come home excited to see the babies.
“If children are no longer able to be with their parent(s), the next best place for kids to thrive is with the love and support of family and friends that know them,” said Spaulding President and CEO Melissa Jenovai.
Fostering and adopting has brought both incredible highs and difficult moments for the family. She said she feels indescribable love, and is comforted to be the girls’ safe place, even if only for part of their journey. At the same time, the uncertainty can be hard: The court process, the waiting, and the fear of not knowing what comes next.
But through it all, the family remind themselves that being able to love and care for a child when they need it most is a gift.
“I love Spaulding. Everyone I have come into contact with there has been great,” Nicole said. “They supported us through this journey and helped us when we were completely clueless and new to the process. They also have so many fun outings for the children and welcome our children to attend also. We have been to a baseball game, Christmas parties, back to school roller skating event and they provided all our children with backpacks and school supplies.”
She says she hopes her children know they are loved and supported – every step of the way.
“My hope is that all children in foster care can reflect on their journey one day and remember someone who loved them someone who was their safe place, someone who left an everlasting positive impression in their lives,” Nicole said. “Fostering/adopting is so important and such a wonderful way to give back to the world. I am so blessed in my life and I am so thankful that I am able to share that with these children and wish I could do it a million times over!”
For more information about Spaulding for Children and the ways that you can support families, view our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. If you’d like to support Spaulding so that we can continue creating events that were so helpful to Nicole and her family, visit our Donate page.
