Kentucky woman wins 'miracle lottery prize' after home destroyed

Oct 11, 2010, 9:45 am (12 comments)

Kentucky Lottery

By Todd Northrop

A Kentucky woman facing disaster has been literally lifted from the ashes by a miracle $80,000 lottery win.

Sandra Ramirez, 44, of Cadiz, Kentucky, was devastated last month when her home was destroyed by fire.  She was at work on Sept. 20th when she received a call that her house was on fire.  When she arrived home there was nothing left.

Then, on Thursday morning, Oct. 7, she received a miracle phone call from Kentucky Lottery officials:  Ramirez had won $80,000 in the Kentucky Lottery's Gold Bar Bonanza Ultimate Second Chance drawing.

At first, Ramirez thought her winning ticket had burned up in the fire. Winners must be able to present the ticket entered in order to claim their prize.

When I was told I had won $80,000, I just couldn't believe it, but then I panicked," said Ramirez. "I immediately thought, 'Oh, my God, the tickets burned up in the fire.'"

Fortunately for Ramirez, who said she did not own a computer and entered the drawing online at either the public library or her parents' house, she had left the tickets at her parents' house.

"I was ready to jump in the car and go search through the rubble until it hit me that the ticket could be at my parents' house," she said.

Ramirez drove there and found the tickets next to their computer.

"I did my happy dance," she said.

Ramirez said the money will go a long way toward helping her rebuild her future following the fire. "This is definitely going to be a big help," said Ramirez, who hopes to become debt-free and also plans to buy a computer for her daughter, who is attending nursing school.

The Kentucky Lottery received 92,772 entries for the second-chance drawing. Players could either mail-in or enter their non-winning $10 Gold Bar Bonanza scratch-off tickets via the internet for a chance to win.

The next Ultimate Second Chance drawing is scheduled to take place on Dec. 8. Players can enter their non-winning $10 Cold Hard Cash scratch-off tickets for a chance to win the game's top prize of $125,000. More information on the Ultimate Second Chance drawings can be found at the Kentucky Lottery's Web site.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I'm hoping and assuming she had insurance on the house because 80k isn't going to replace much nowadays. It sounds like she did with her talking about getting out of debt and buying a computer for her daughter and such.

The best part of her luck though may have been that the fire didn't start while she was home and sleeping.

I hope her luck continues but without the drama.

sully16's avatarsully16

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Glad she won some money, but it will never replace the the things lost in the fire, I 'm glad she's okay.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Sad that she lost everything ....... Happy that she is alive ......... and won some money!

Patriot

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

not sure any moey would replace whats lost in a house fire.  but all the stuff that isnt important can be replaced.  apart fromnn the fire thing , thats one lucky lady.,

konane's avatarkonane

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Oct 11, 2010

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Glad she won some money, but it will never replace the the things lost in the fire, I 'm glad she's okay.

I Agree!   Amazing blessing after such a tragedy.  Good luck to her!

stripesnsolids's avatarstripesnsolids

Truly a blessing!

Velocity's avatarVelocity

What an amazing blessing! Thank goodness she and her family are safe, this money will help them rebuild.Thumbs Up

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations, Sandra, on your apx. $55,200 net Kentucky Lottery Office win. 

Hopefully, you're now playing the multi-million net lump-sum jackpot lottery on-line games ... just in case you're on a winning streak.

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

Congrats on the win Ms. Ramirez!! Sorry to hear of the loss of everything in your home!

computerhead723's avatarcomputerhead723

what  a  nice  ending  to  a  ery  sad  story ....she  must  be  a  good  person  to  have  that  type  of  luck....Hyper

louise black

BananaThanks goodness, that she had that second chance in the works. If not, she would be in the same  condition as the gentleman in Tenn.,whose home burn to the ground while the fire department watch.Because the lack or miss payment of $75.00 fee for the fire department.I do recall them saying they paid taxes there,yet their home burn.Seem like you can't leave somethings to the peoples.Oh! CONGRAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ms Ramirez on the win.

gonnawinwatchme's avatargonnawinwatchme

Congratulations to her!  Sounds like it will be a wonderful blessing to her and her family.  So thankful she wasn't in the home when the fire started!

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