Do you believe in divine timing?
This sure was a divine timing for Jimmie Smith a 68-year old retired security officer when he won a $24.1 million lottery. Jimmie had stuck all his unchecked lottery tickets in the pocket of one of his old shirts which was hanging in the closet, thinking he would check them one day when he gets time.
“I always told myself, ‘I’ll check them when I have the time,'” jimmy said.
He checked the tickets just two days before it’s expiry date, had he waited for two more days he would have lost out on $24.1 million.
The winning numbers for the May 25, 2016 drawing were: 05 – 12 – 13 – 22 – 25 – 35.
The New York Gaming Commission was aware that the ticket was sold at a bodega in New York City, but they were not aware of the person who bought the ticket.
Winners have a year to claim the prize and that expiration day was quickly approaching.
So earlier this year, the New York Lottery started to get the word out.
“We urge New York Lottery players: Check your pockets. Check your glove box. Look under the couch cushions. If you have this winning ticket, we look forward to meeting you,” Gweneth Dean, director of the Commission’s Division of the Lottery, said at the time.
The news story inspired Jimmy to check his old tickets.
When he looked at the numbers match up, he “stood there for a minute thinking, ‘Do I see what I think I see?'”
“I had to stick my head out the window and breathe in some fresh air,: he said. “I was in serious doubt. I really had to convince myself this was real.”
This happened on May 23, 2017, and he. He’d have been ineligible to collect after May 25, 2017.
On Wednesday, the New York Lottery released Smith’s name after completing a review.
“We are thrilled that this lucky winner was able to locate this life-changing ticket,” Dean, of the gaming commission, said.
Jimmy chose to receive his payments over the course of 26 years.
A father of two and grandfather of 12, he said he plans to have an “all-family discussion” once things settle down.
Source – CNN
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