Minn. Great-Grandmother Learns She Won $100K from Scratch-Off Ticket While Hospitalized for Stage 4 Brain Cancer
Debbie Bury was already bringing joy to her oncology floor — and then a friend brought her a winning lottery ticket
A Minnesota great-grandmother reportedly won $100,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket days after she was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.
Debbie Bury was in the oncology unit at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn. when doctors broke the devastating news, according to CBS affiliate WCCO.
Yet as her friends and family rallied around her, Bury buoyed the spirits of those who were taking care of her.
“She was just a joy to the floor," oncology nurse manager Andrea O'Hern told the station. "I made a crown for her — 'Queen of Methodist Hospital.' She was just loving it 'cause she just lit up a room."
On her first day in the hospital, more than 25 friends visited her, Bury said. Later, one such visitor came bearing a gift: a Minnesota Vikings-themed lottery ticket.
“He goes, ‘Oh, push it back … you just won $100,000,’ ” Bury recalled to WCCO.
She was dubious about its authenticity, but her daughter knew better.
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"I go, 'No it's not, Mom. I play these scratch-offs,' " Melissa Cryer told the station.
"I just bawled," she said, "it was just amazing."
Bury, who happens to be an avid blackjack dealer, beat the odds on the $5 Vikings Classic scratch-off, according to NBC affiliate KVLY.
Her win also brought a moment of sheer happiness to a place that often sees the opposite.
"There was an unbelievable eruption and people were like, 'What's happening, what's going on?' “ recalled O’Hern, the hospital nurse manager. “Usually when you have that, something bad happened, but she couldn't even speak.”
She added: “It's not all the time you get joyful surprises on the oncology floor. Just to see this is so different than what we see on the daily, and we get to celebrate with you."
