$10 Gift Card Turned into $10,000 Lottery Prize

When Paula Curtis' son gave her a $10 gift card to QuikTrip for Christmas, he figured she would spend the money on coffee.  Mom, however, had a different idea.  She used the $10 gift card to buy 10 tickets for the December 25 Mega Millions drawing - a decision that proved to be very lucky. 

The Wichita resident won $10,000 when one of her Quick Pick tickets matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball!  The winning numbers for the Christmas Night Mega Millions drawing were 2, 3, 18, 34, 48 and Megaball 36.  The numbers on Curtis' winning ticket were 3, 4, 18, 34, 48 and Megaball 36.

"I always see the big billboard advertising the Mega Millions jackpot, so I thought I'd give it a try. I don't think my son is too upset with me for using the gift card for tickets instead of coffee," Curtis joked.

Curtis, who is a home health care provider, was reading the newspaper to one of her clients when she saw the winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing and checked her tickets.  "My patient was pretty excited for me," said Curtis. "I'm going to take my big check to show her next time I visit." 

Curtis is single and the mother of two adult sons. The same son who gave her the QuikTrip gift card also gave her a $25 gift card for Olive Garden.

"I'm taking everybody out to eat," the winner reported. "We're going to celebrate one of the best times I've ever had!"  Curtis says she will use her prize money for a new battery for her truck, repairs to her sewer system and possibly a new piece of jewelry for herself.

The lucky ticket was purchased at QuikTrip 315, located at 1500 S. Maize Road in Wichita.