Michelle Mitzi Nichols mother always told her if you do good deeds, theyll come back to you.

And nearly three years after she became the first person in Hampton Roads to donate a kidney to a stranger, the Beach resident has won $500,000 from the Virginia Lottery.

I was in shock, she said Tuesday, after claiming her check at the state lottery office in Hampton. I couldnt believe it I still cant believe it. I never thought this could happen to me.

The chances of winning the $500,000 prize are one in 538,560 , said Ed Scarborough, a Virginia Lottery spokes man.

I guess if you do good things, good things will happen to you, Nichols said. If I had a few more kidneys to donate, I would.

Nichols, a cashier at the Seagull Pier gift shop on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, bought the Big Money Spectacular ticket at work Monday morning .

Nichols said she raced into her cousin Debbie Newbakers office to have another set of eyes inspect her ticket.

I held it in my hands, said Newbaker, 48, the manager of the gift shop. Its the most Ill ever hold. Im not as lucky as she is.

With her winnings, $355,000 after taxes, the 44-year-old plans to keep giving. Among other things, shes going to buy two automobiles one for her husband, Allen Nichols , and one for her daughter.