Upon Nate’s release from the hospital in October 2019, he returned home to Jenna, his foster mother, with Tim also joining the household.
“Within a few weeks, it felt like we had formed a family,” Tim shared, as reported by People magazine.
Having already lived with the couple for a period, Nate played a special role in Tim and Jenna’s wedding in May 2021, serving as their ring bearer. Later that winter, the Riccios joyously welcomed Julien, their biological daughter, with Nate embracing his role as a proud big brother. Jenna remarked that Julien adores her brother, lighting up at the sound of his voice.
However, the family’s journey took another significant step in November 2022 when Nate’s adoption by the Riccios was finalized, granting him their family name. He was among 50 children who transitioned to permanent guardianship through the Department of Children and Families after spending 1,142 days in foster care, as reported by CT Insider.
While Jenna held onto hope for Nate’s potential reunion with his birth parents, she knew without a doubt that he belonged with her and Tim. Nate, Jenna noted, taught her the essence of motherhood, while Tim found in his son a remarkable embodiment of resilience and perseverance.
Today, Nate excels in school and has adapted to using prosthetic legs. Though he still faces further surgeries and treatments, his well-being has significantly improved under Jenna and Tim’s care and guidance
