BRIGHTON, N.Y. —It was a story that made headlines four decades ago: a baby left in a cardboard box outside a Brighton apartment in July 1978.

She was found by a social worker. The little girl was nicknamed "Baby Lilac." In an anonymous note sent later, reportedly from her birth mother, it was asked that the baby be named Rachel Niccole Michaelson, but her birthmother was never identified.

Judy McKeever can still hear the cries of the infant that changed her life.

She was moving out of her apartment off Highland Avenue when, at the back steps, she found a Miller beer box with a blanket over it.

Inside, a naked, five-day old baby cried; her umbilical cord tied with a red rubber band.

"We have a connection," McKeever said. "We've been talking. We're gonna be friends for life."

Today, that little baby is named Lori. Her last name is not being released. She will not speak with the media but she recently appeared in a social media photo with McKeever. Lori now lives out of state with her husband and daughter after being raised by a loving family.

Rochester at teacher who found a baby on her doorstep 40 years ago says Lori, known for Two generations as “Baby Lilac”. Woman now looking for birth mother. @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/71mTR31w3t — Jim Aroune (@JimAroune) September 8, 2018

Lori committed to finding her biological mother in the last year after learning she had been adopted.

"She kept sending me messages: thank you for saving my life," McKeever said. "We've been talking a lot and we've just really connected. She's had a really good life."

Brighton Police tried to link the card and other clues through the years to the family, but so far, there are no leads.

"We are at the exhaustion point with this investigation," Chief Mark Henderson said.

Lori submitted DNA samples to Ancestry.com and 23 and me in hopes of reconnecting with her birth mom. So far, there are no links to her sample.

"If there is a birth mother that is watching at home, there's an opportunity to connect by using one of these services. It'll all be kept confidential," said Henderson.

McKeever says she and others will keep working to help Lori create a reunion 40 years in the making.

"She's just on a journey," said McKeever.

Anyone with information that could help Lori find her birthmother is asked to contact Chief Mark Henderson at (585) 784-5101 or email at mark.henderson@townofbrighton.org.