Winners' Stories
Ashley & Lonnie Brookshire
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The Brookshire's
‘It’s Real!’ - North State Couple Claims $1 Million California Lottery Ticket
A Crescent City couple can’t believe what just happened, they say they’ve got the video to prove it. “When I was walking up the stairs, he had his phone out and he was videotaping me,” Ashley Brookshire said, about how her husband broke the good news. Lonnie Brookshire had played a $10 Silver & Gold Scratchers® ticket and revealed the game’s top-prize – $1 million before taxes!
“I knew how she was going to react,” Lonnie said, explaining why he decided to whip out his camera and record his wife’s expression. At first she didn’t believe him. “I had to keep telling her, ‘No, baby. It’s real!’” Lonnie said. That doubt was soon followed with a lot of jumping up and down, screaming and yelling.
The couple says you have to understand the backstory to fully appreciate the magnitude of this win. Lonnie, who is 33 years old, had Stage III testicular cancer. He’s now in remission, but that positive outcome came with a price. Having to travel week after week to Eureka for treatments put a strain on the family…physical, emotional and financial. “The chemo got us into a hardship,” Ashley said. “I got four kids and a dog at home.”
The Brookshires embrace Lonnie’s updated health news as a tremendous gift. And now this! “This completely changes our lives,” Ashley said. “We’re gonna buy a house and put some money away for our kids.” There’s even more good news. Ashely told us that the same day they discovered their win she also received a promotion at work.
While it still seems a bit unreal, the couple now welcomes the start of 2016 with a renewed sense of optimism. That includes a message of hope for other Lottery players who occasionally buy tickets, just like them. “It’s real. It can really happen for you,” Ashley said. “Don’t spend all your money on them, but it’s worth playing.”