News writer
When Liam Carter began the difficult task of going through his late mother’s belongings, he braced himself for an emotional journey. He expected to find memories tucked into old photo albums, a few forgotten trinkets, maybe a grocery list or two.
But buried in the quiet clutter of a kitchen drawer, he discovered something far more unexpected: a lottery ticket, scribbled with a simple reminder in his mother’s handwriting. It seemed ordinary at first, but he soon realized the ticket may have been one last parting gift from his mother.
A surprise from his late mother
On April 16, 2025, Anne Carter passed away at the age of 67. After her death, her son, 34-year-old Liam Carter of Aberdeen, was going through some of her belongings in her home.
During that time, he found a EuroMillions ticket stuffed inside her kitchen drawer. The ticket was for the draw on Friday, April 18 — just two days after she passed away.
On the ticket, Liam noticed a handwritten note by his mother. The note said: “Sat draw – don’t forget!”
A parting gift from his mother
That ticket and note turned out to be one last parting gift from his mother, Liam said. He had a hunch, so he grabbed the ticket and decided to check it using the National Lottery app.
When he checked the ticket, he was prompted to call the official line for confirmation. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but the call revealed that his mother’s ticket had matched the five main numbers for that draw — 20, 27, 35, 39, and 48 — but missed out on matching the two Lucky Stars, which were 3 and 8.
Liam was shocked to find out he had a big winner on his hands. He told The Daily Record, "When they told me it was worth £18,043, I just froze. I must've gone quiet on the phone. It didn't feel real. She never won anything big in her life — and now this."
Always meant for him?
Despite his mother passing away before enjoying the lottery win, it seems like the money would have always ended up in Liam’s hands.
He said his mother played the lottery every week, adding, “She always said if she ever won, the money would be for me." Liam went on to say this was like a parting gift from his mom, “And even though she never knew about this win, it really felt like something she left behind for me. Like one final gift."
After collecting the winnings, Liam plans on using that money to put a deposit down on a flat, a dream that his mother encouraged him to pursue.
‘Lottery isn’t just about money’
This heartfelt story shows that sometimes playing the lottery is more than just the money. A spokesperson for Play Casino said, "Liam's story shows that the lottery isn't just about money — it's about meaning. In this case, a forgotten ticket became something powerful and emotional."
While Liam was grieving his mother, he found himself experiencing a windfall his mother had always hoped for when playing the lottery every week. The spokesperson added, "It's a reminder that even the smallest moments can carry the biggest impact."
With Liam finding this winning ticket in his mother’s kitchen drawer, it’s a friendly reminder to always store your tickets in an identifiable place because you never know what life is going to bring you.
Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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