Jackpot dust-off! Medford house cleaner finds lost $1 million scratch off lottery ticket

Khalil Soussa (right) found himself a whopping $1 million richer thanks to his house cleaner   Photo: Supplied

Medford resident Khalil Soussa found himself a whopping $1 million richer - all thanks to his house cleaner and a long-forgotten vase!

On a regular Monday morning, as Medford went about its routine, Mr. Soussa was about to be hit with the news that would change his life forever.

The Massachusetts State Lottery's “15,000,000 Money Maker” game had declared him the winner of a staggering $1 million prize!

But Khalil wasn't even aware that he was holding onto the golden ticket.

The Massachusetts State Lottery's $15,000,000 Money Maker ticket   Image: Massachusetts State Lottery

The heroine of our story? His house cleaner, who, in an astonishing display of luck and fate, found the ticket inside a vase!

Most of us might occasionally find old receipts, pennies, or at best a few forgotten dollars when cleaning up.

But a million-dollar lottery ticket? Now that's something that doesn't happen every day.

CBS Boston and WBZ TV's Kate Merrill reports on Khalil's $1 million win   Photo: CBS Boston/YouTube

Let's backtrack a bit. Khalil had purchased the lottery ticket a few months ago.

Like many of us, he probably scratched it off, thought nothing of it, and placed it in a vase, thinking he'd check it later.

But life gets busy, doesn't it? The ticket was soon forgotten, lying dormant in its ceramic home, awaiting its moment of glory.

Lottery tickets are useful in other ways. Here they're turned into a vase by a Vietnamese craftsperson   Photo: Vietnam News

And then, on a day that seemed like any other, the house cleaner, while dusting off the vase, discovered the ticket.

Recognizing it as one of the lottery tickets Khalil occasionally purchased, she handed it over to him, not knowing the jackpot it held.

When Khalil checked the ticket, the numbers matched! And just like that, in the middle of an ordinary day, he became a millionaire.

Choosing to receive his earnings as a lump sum, Khalil got a handsome one-time payment of $650,000, before taxes.

But, as big as his windfall was, Khalil showed that he had a heart even bigger. He immediately expressed his plans to use some of his newfound wealth to help out a friend in need.

That's not all – in a kind gesture, he also announced his intention to donate a portion of his winnings to charity.

Khalil Soussa purchased the ticket at Tony’s Convenience at 416 Salem St. in Medford   Photo: Google Maps

As for Tony’s Convenience at 416 Salem St. in Medford, where Khalil had originally purchased the ticket, they too had a reason to celebrate.

For selling the lucky ticket, the store is set to receive a $10,000 bonus! Talk about good luck rubbing off on others.

The entire episode, which seems straight out of a feel-good movie, has not just left Khalil and his house cleaner in awe, but has also turned them into local celebrities.

Neighbors, friends, and even strangers have been stopping by to congratulate the duo on their unexpected fortune.

Many in the town are calling it “The Miracle of Medford”. And indeed, it is a story that will be shared for generations.

In another story, Richard Cerezo was cleaning out the lottery tickets in a cookie jar (shown) and decided to have them checked out. He won $4 million   Photo: YouTube

It also serves as a gentle reminder to always check your lottery tickets – you never know where fortune might be hiding.

So next time you're cleaning or organizing around your home, pay close attention. Today it was a vase in Medford; tomorrow it could be a sock drawer in your house.

Sometimes, it's not just dust that's hiding in those corners. Sometimes, it's a life-changing surprise waiting to be found!


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