BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Rose family is searching for a family member.
The family is from Penn Yan, New York, but they came to Buffalo to tell their story. They believe their adopted brother and son, last known as Christopher Fetterman, could live here.
"When I was in high school I found out that I was pregnant and back then we didn't obviously have the ability to raise a child or anything like that," said Fetterman's biological mother, Kathleen Rose. "So we decided that the best thing for our son would be to surrender him for adoption."
Fetterman was born at Sisters Hospital on October 14, 1987. He was adopted through Catholic Charities. It was a closed adoption so the Rose family isn't able to get any information about him.
"It was really, really hard. I think it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life," Kathleen Rose said.
Thirty-two years later, the family says they want to meet him and see if he got the life they hoped he would. His biological sister, Danielle, put up a post on Facebook with his information in hopes of finding him. At last check it had more than 11,000 shares.
"It feels like a piece of our, it is really a piece of our family is missing," Danielle Rose said.
The family has also searched the New York State adoption registry and DNA test programs without any luck.
"There's always a piece that's missing. Wheeling out of the hospital was, without him, there's nothing like that," Kathleen Rose said. "Knowing that you are leaving him behind trusting someone else to raise him and give him the best."
The family hopes Fetterman or someone who knows Fetterman will discover they are looking for him and want to connect.
"We're hoping that he'll see this and know that we are a good family, and that he can feel safe reaching out to us if he wants a friendship," Kathleen Rose said.
Added Danielle Rose: "I just want you to know that we do want you to be a part of our family, we'd love to get to know you."
They are hoping for a reunion that they say would mean the world.
"Oh my goodness, it would be 32 years of prayers, 32 years of prayers answered," Kathleen Rose said.
If you have any information that would help the family you are asked to contact Danielle Rose at daniellerose104@gmail.com.