JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville couple won $1 million from a scratch-off ticket three weeks before the birth of their child, the Florida Lottery announced Tuesday.
John Stanhill, 46, purchased the winning ticket from the Duval Exxon at 1403 Third Street North in Jacksonville Beach. He and his new family chose to take the winnings in a one-time lump-sum payment of $640,000.
Stanhill said the win came just three weeks before the couple's baby was due.
“This just couldn’t have happened at a better time!” he said.
The Florida Lottery recently caught up with the couple, who have been very busy with their newborn.
“We won the lottery, and then we won the lottery again with our beautiful, healthy baby boy!” the baby's mother, Victoria Oakley, said. “All in three weeks’ time!”
The Lottery said Stanhill won with the $50 500X THE CASH scratch-off game.
“Our lottery win has been such a huge relief for us. We’ve been able to fully focus on being new parents by putting our financial worries at ease,” the couple said. “We were able to start a college fund for our baby and plan on paying off student loans. We are over the moon with everything that’s happened!”