When a Chicago teenager opened her birthday gifts, she never anticipated she’d wind up with $4 million.
Deisi Ocampo said her dad gave her two $100 Million Money Mania instant tickets for her 19th birthday.
“It turned out to be the best birthday present ever,” she told Illinois Lottery officials.
Ocampo said she scratched off the tickets on Oct. 7 while on her way to work. She didn’t win anything on the first ticket she scratched, but when she finished scratching the second ticket, she realized she had won $4 million.
“I started sweating. I couldn’t believe it was possible,” she said. “I worked the whole day without saying a word to anyone.”
The Chicago native lives with her parents and sister. When she got home that day, she said her parents didn’t believe it either.
“When I told my dad I won he asked, ‘How much? $500?’ and I said, ‘No, Dad, $4 million,’” she said.
U.S. & World
Ocampo, who works at a clothing store while attending college, says she plans to use the money to help pay for school and buy her family a new house.
“This lottery win will make it easier to pursue my dream of completing my degree and becoming a nurse,” she said.
The tickets were purchased at the Austin and Montrose Citgo at 5959 West Montrose Ave. in Chicago.
