Woman wins $25,000 a year for life after having a dream about it 6 months ago

Patricia chose a one-time payment of $390,000 instead of $25000 a year for life.

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Neha B.

Apr 5, 2024

By Neha B.

April 5, 2024

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Photo credit: @MAStateLottery – Cover Image Source: X

Ever had a dream that felt very real, more like a future prediction? This is what happened with a Massachusetts-based woman, Patricia Harris. In early 2023, she had a dream about winning the lottery. On September 24, 2023, her dream came true as she took home the multi-state “Lucky for Life” game’s jackpot prize worth $25,000 a year for life.

Representative Image Source: Pexels | Karolina Grabowska

She won this prize when the first five numbers selected in this drawing matched those on her Quic Pic ticket. According to a press release by Massachusetts Lottery, Patricia claimed her prize on March 14, 2024, at Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. She chose to receive her prize as a one-time payment of $390,000 (before taxes).

When claiming her prize, she said that six months ago, she had a dream about winning the lottery. The subconscious mind works in miraculous ways. She had bought the winning lottery ticket at Country Farm, 429 Washington St. in Holliston. The store receives a $5,000 bonus for the sale of this ticket. She also said she plans to use her winnings to invest and to do some nice things for her family.

Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The lottery officials also confirmed that a $25,000 a year for life prize won on May 17, 2023 “Lucky for Life” drawing remains unclaimed. This winning ticket was purchased at J Convenience Store & Laundromat, on a main street in Natick. “Lucky for Life” prize winners have one year from the date of the drawing to claim prizes. And if the prize expires, it becomes part of the net profit that the Lottery returns to the Commonwealth for distribution to all 351 cities and towns, the officials wrote.

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According to its website, the Massachusetts Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. Since selling its first ticket on March 22, 1972, “the Lottery has generated over $149 billion in revenues, awarded over $105 billion in prizes, returned over $32 billion in net profit to the Commonwealth for unrestricted local aid provided to cities and towns, and paid over $8.5 billion in commissions and bonuses to its statewide network of retailers.”

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According to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, the “Lucky for Life” game requires players to match five numbers out of 48 to win $25,000 a year for life. Those who also match one Lucky Ball in addition to five numbers, out of 18 numbers, win $7,000 a week for life, or $364,000 a year, before taxes. The odds of matching at least one ball is 1 in 7.8.

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Motorcyclist trapped under a 3,300 pound car saved by Australian car salesmen

“Man, I’m dying. This is it.”

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Tyler Wiebe was on his way to work on his motorcycle in Brisbane, Australia. Then a car approached in the wrong way in traffic, colliding with another car that then hit Wiebe. The accident threw Wiebe off his bike and under a car. He was trapped under the 3,300-lb. vehicle, doomed until a group of salesmen and onlookers came to his rescue.

“I was being dragged and when it stopped, my head and chest were under the car,” Wiebe said to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The crash and being pinned down under the vehicle gave Wiebe several injuries. He suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and a collapsed lung.

But that would be diagnosed later. At the time, the car’s weight was crushing Wiebe to the point that he couldn’t breathe. His heart was also unable to beat, the pressure causing his eyes, mouth, and nose to bleed.

“Initially it was ‘can I get out?’ and then it was ‘man I am dying, this is it,’” recalled Wiebe. “[My] wife and two kids are not here, and this is it.”

Hope comes in the form of a car salesman

After being stuck for two minutes under the car, help arrived from the nearby Auto Request Kedron, a used car dealership.

“I was in the office at the time, so I heard the bang [and] came running to the doors,” Mick, one of the employees, said to A Current Affair.

“I realized there was someone trapped under the car,” fellow employee Rob added.

They rushed into action, recruiting other coworkers to help.

“[I] saw Rob running and he was just whistling out saying, ‘Hey, boys, hurry up,’ ” Corbin recalled. “I remember seeing him, just like two legs. They weren’t moving at that time.”

The salesmen tried to lift the vehicle up to get Wiebe to safety, but the car wouldn’t budge.

“We tried to lift it off. We couldn’t, and then on the second attempt, we had a couple of other good Samaritans come and help us,” said Brian, another employee of Auto Request Kedron.

Reportedly 15 people were finally able to lift the car and free Wiebe underneath. He was rushed to the hospital where he went under emergency operations. Under hospital care, Wiebe’s condition stabilized and he survived. Had he been under that car any longer, the worst would have happened.

Wiebe was humbled and grateful to the salesmen and others who stepped up to save him.

“I get more time with my daughters, I get more time with my family and a second lease on life, so just thank you, thank you,” Wiebe said in his hospital bed.

Certified legends

When he was discharged from the hospital, Wiebe set up a reunion with the employees of the used car dealership. He was able to introduce his family to his rescuers and thank them face-to-face. Wiebe presented them with matching t-shirts, each one with a logo reading “Certified Legend” on the front and an illustration of a person lifting a car over their head on the back.

“You guys are legends, but now you’re certified legends,” Wiebe said to his heroes.

A father and husband was saved thanks to the alertness and quick action of the nearby community.

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Photo credit: News 5 Cleveland on YouTube/Canva – Beverly Thomas got an outpouring of support.

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Ohio local news viewers spring into action after seeing an elderly woman threatened with jail time

Many reached out to help a complete stranger.

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Beverly Thomas was in trouble. The 79-year-old retired nurse in Willoughby, Ohio was summoned to court due to the state of her lawn. The judge told Thomas she could possibly be jailed for failing to maintain her property. Fortunately, Thomas was saved by people she never even met.

Thomas has arthritis and tremors, making yard work incredibly difficult for her to do. She also lives on a fixed income, unable to afford either landscaping or legal bills. She had no idea what to do.

“I went to court and heard [the judge] say that I can be put in jail over it, making it sound like a crime, then I got nervous and had trouble sleeping at night,” Thomas said to News 5 Cleveland.

Local news viewers reached out

After Thomas’ plight was reported on the local news, she had a knock on her door the following day. Standing right in front of her were the two people she needed most: a lawn care professional and an attorney offering their services.

“They said, ‘We don’t know each other, but we just showed up at the same time.’ Wow, good people at that same time, amazing and reassuring,” Thomas said.

The lawn care professional, Norburt Sanek, came across Thomas’ story while on Facebook. Since he was nearby and could do something, he felt compelled to act. He and the attorney weren’t alone.

Dozens of people reached out to News 5 Cleveland to see how they could help Thomas. Sanek organized volunteers to help. Some even took the day off work to drive down to Thomas’ home to cut grass, pull weeds, and haul trash.

The assistance goes national

While significant progress had been made on Thomas’ property, Sanek knew that Thomas still needed more help that couldn’t be accomplished through human muscle. So, he set up a GoFundMe for Thomas.

“We are asking for $6,000 to cover the cost of removing dangerous trees, a dumpster to haul away debris, paying her fines and court costs, installing a security system and building her a small garden that reflects her love of nature,” wrote Sanek on Thomas’ GoFundMe page.

When the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging caught wind of the story, they decided to chip in. The agency provides advocacy and assistance for senior citizens so they can live independently.

“I know that she has a GoFundMe account going on right now and we’re actually willing to match it up to $3,000,” said Christopher Hall, the chief operating officer for the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging.

As of this writing, Thomas’ GoFundMe is a little over $5,000 of its $6,000 goal. Many of the donations came from locals and people across the country alike. Thomas was astounded that so many strangers would show up to help her, whether it was through volunteer work or donations.

“I didn’t know there were kind people out there willing to help like this. I’m touched,” Thomas said. “I hope God blesses them for giving of their time to help somebody who can’t do it anymore. Thank you one and all.”

How to help the elders in your community with their lawns

If Thomas’ story speaks to you, you may notice a neighbor’s lawn growing neglected. It might be worth it to knock on their door and offer to mow or trim hedges.

If you’re not comfortable doing that or lack the tools, you can still help. Search online for volunteer groups in your area that can help this person. There are also national nonprofit organizations such as I Want To Mow Your Lawn Inc. that could provide the help your neighbor needs.

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Photo credit: Muscatine County Emergency Management/911 on Facebook – Two 13-year-olds are being honored for their live-saving deed.

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Iowa teen bike riders save injured elderly woman that was stranded outside for 16 hours

Two 13-year-olds saved a woman’s life.

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It started like a typical summer morning for 13-year-olds, Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick of Fruitland, Iowa. Skidmore was eating a Pop Tart and scrolling through social media when Chick invited him for a bike ride. As they biked through a local trail, they noticed something off when riding past some houses. That’s when they found an elderly woman lying on the ground.

“I went to the trail and Kohen was like, ‘You see that lady back there?’ I was like, ‘No.’ Then, we went back and looked, and it took a little while to find her, and we found her. I said ‘Hey ma’am are you OK?’ She was like ‘Yeah, I need help. Call 911,’” Skidmore told 6 KWQC News.

What happened?

According to reports, the woman fell outside at 5:00 p.m. the previous day after feeding her horse. Unable to get up, she rolled herself from the backyard to the front yard in the hope to get help. She spent the night lying outside exposed with no phone, water, or food. She’d be lying there for over 16 hours until the boys discovered her.

“She was like scared. You could just tell because like her face, she was covered in all these bugs and stuff,” said Chick.

The teens were hesitant to approach the woman at first, but quickly called Skidmore’s mother. She immediately drove to their location and called 9-1-1. The woman had an ambulance quickly transport her to a nearby Muscatine hospital for treatment. While the extent of her injuries aren’t public knowledge, the intense summer heat and lack of water could’ve turned the woman’s fall into a fatal one.

“A few more hours and she definitely like wouldn’t have made it,” said Skidmore.

Skidmore’s mom has remained in contact with the injured woman’s family. She’s also caring for the woman’s horse and plans on preparing a lasagna dinner for her when she returns from the hospital.

The teen heroes were honored

The boys were congratulated and celebrated by the community for their actions. Skidmore and Chick were given a special award courtesy of Muscatine County Emergency Management.

“Today, I would like to recognize the extraordinary actions of two young men whose quick thinking and compassion helped save a life in Muscatine County,” the MCEM director stated in a speech posted on Facebook. “Without the prompt actions of Gunner and Kohen, the outcome could have been tragic. Their awareness, compassion, and willingness to help a person in need undoubtedly made a difference and may very well have saved her life.”

Photo credit: Louisa-Muscatine Community Schools

“For their heroic actions and outstanding example of community service, Muscatine County Emergency Management is proud to present Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick with the Life Saving Award,” the speech continued. “Thank you, Gunner and Kohen, for your selfless actions and your commitment to helping a fellow citizen. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”

Quick thinking and a willingness to help a neighbor is how two teens and a mom became local heroes.

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