New adoption laws in Ohio could change the life of a Bay area man.
Greg Burnham, 43, was adopted at birth and has always wondered about his parents.
"Who were my birth parents? What were they like? What did they even look like? Something as simple as who do I resemble?" said Burnham.
Burnham nearly got that answer just days after his birth in Ohio, when his adoptive mother took a strange call from an anonymous woman.
"Who knew enough information that led my mom to believe that might've been my birth mother,” he said.
Four decades later, no other calls, no cards, nothing. Thanks to closed adoption laws in Ohio, Burnham is still left to wonder who his birth parents are.
That is until now. A change in the law could change Burnham's life.
Burnham's birth parents have a year to seal their records. If they do, at the very least he'll learn more about their medical history. If they do not, Burnham can find out who they are.
Growing up in a house with wonderful adoptive parents Burnham said he never felt cheated.
Instead he made the most of his life. His son is in college, he spent part of his career in law enforcement, now he's back in the Navy working at MacDill Air Force Base.
"I'm sure that's why they wanted only the best for me when they did put me up for adoption,” said Burnham.
There is an adoption reunion registry for children in Florida. If the birth parent elects to be on the registry their identity will be released to the child when he or she turns 18.