‘MY BODY WENT NUMB:’ Markham caregiver wins $60-million Lotto Max jackpot

A Markham woman was shocked to learn that her Lotto Max ticket was the $60-million winning one.

Lai Ching Yau told the folks at OLG that like all lottery players, she hoped hers was going to be that ticket – but never did think it would actually happen.

“My body went numb, and my mind went blank,” she said when she picked up her big, beautiful cheque at OLG headquarters in Toronto. “I couldn’t think or feel anything.”

Yau recalled getting the help of her loved ones because she didn’t believe her luck.

“I knew I needed my family to help make sure it was real, so I called them and sent them a screenshot of the win on the OLG App,” the caregiver said. “They told me to calm down and breathe – when they confirmed it was true, they told me to sign the ticket, but my hands were shaking so much I couldn’t hold the pen!”

Ontario’s newest multimillionaire was able to drop her signature on the ticket and compose herself before heading to the store to validate her numbers from the Jan. 17 draw.

“I was so shocked in the store that I left before I could even finish validating the ticket,” she said with a laugh. “The clerk had to flag me down through the window.”

Yau said sharing the news with her family was the icing on the cake.

“They all hugged me so tight and we cried happy tears together,” she said. “It was so touching to have everyone so happy for me.”

Yau admitted her win has been a lot to process and she plans to take her family out for a nice meal to “discuss the future and decide what dreams will come true.”

She added that she might buy a new home but travelling is the first big thing she plans to knock off her bucket list.

“I will let all this sink in while I relax and settle into this incredible win,” she said. “I plan to take this next part of my journey one step at a time. I feel so lucky to be in these unbelievable circumstances.”

The winning ticket was purchased at Times Circle Plus on Highway 7 in Richmond Hill.

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