A $1 million Lotto win brought “tears and laughter” to a Hamilton couple just two weeks after a shocking cancer diagnosis.
The husband, married to his wife for nearly 40 years, received the surprising cancer news just before Christmas.
“I had no symptoms of cancer at all, the doctors were extremely shocked when the results came through, and it was a hell of a shock to me,” he said.
The recent retiree said he had been “down in the dumps” about the prospects of more tests and treatment.
“To be honest, the win hasn’t really sunk in yet because the cancer diagnosis is overriding everything.”
The pair watched the January 3 draw with the same numbers they had on their tickets for the past 35 years and had joked about giving up the weekly ritual because they had never won big.
“We watched the draw and thought, ‘Oooh, we’ve probably got four numbers.’
“We didn’t think anything more of it until we could check it, and then there were tears and laughter.
“My hands were shaking and neither of us could sleep.”
The news kept them wide awake until midnight, making the husband decide to go and have something to eat, but he could not have some of his favourites because of a new lifestyle adopted since the diagnosis.
“Since I got the cancer diagnosis, I’ve adopted a no-sugar, no-dairy, no-meat diet, so I couldn’t even have a beer,” he joked.
Despite the recent setbacks, the couple said they had new reasons to stay positive.
“Our family is welcoming new grandchildren later this year.
“We just love being grandparents, everything is just so exciting for them.”
They will battle the cancer diagnosis together and absorb their Lotto prize money, taking things “one day at a time”.
The next Lotto draw is on Saturday, with an $8 million Powerball jackpot up for grabs.