# Embracing the Unexpected in Foster Care with Nikki Zakocs

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182/embracing-the-unexpected-in-foster-care-with-nikki-zakocs
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182/embracing-the-unexpected-in-foster-care-with-nikki-zakocs.md
Podcast: [From Foster to Forever](https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182)
Published: 2026-01-20T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.fromfoster2forever.com/
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/aa99ae44-499d-4641-b204-a1191c4324f2.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/from-foster-to-forever-6781182/episodes/embracing-the-unexpected-in-foster-care-with-nikki-zakocs
Duration seconds: 2807

## Resource

Flexibility and openness are the name of the game when it comes to fostering and adopting, and our guest, Nikki, really drives that point home today. She’s got a heartwarming story about her journey through foster care, navigating the ups and downs with grace and humor. From dealing with unexpected placements straight out of the hospital to fostering a medically fragile baby, Nikki shares the real scoop on what it’s like to open your home and heart to kids in need. We also dive into how her family adapted, the community support that came through in spades, and the bittersweet moments of attachment and letting go. So, grab your headphones and settle in for a chat that’s not just insightful but also sprinkled with wit and wisdom—perfect for anyone curious about the foster care world! Diving into the heart of foster care and adoption, we chat with Nikki Zakocs, an audiobook narrator and former foster mom who shares her journey through the often chaotic but incredibly rewarding world of fostering. From the moment she and her husband decided to open their home to children in need, Nikki emphasizes the importance of flexibility and an open mind. With three biological kids already in tow, they embarked on a deeply personal journey that began with a lot of research and conversations about what it means to be a foster family. She candidly recounts her initial hopes of adopting internationally, only to discover that the path to foster-to-adopt was not just feasible, but also filled with unexpected joys and challenges. Nikki paints a vivid picture of her first placement, a newborn baby girl who arrived just days after they were licensed, and the whirlwind of emotions that came with it, including the overwhelming feeling of court appearances and the reality of potentially having t…

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## Transcript

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