In what may seem like a stroke of astonishing luck, Dina Russell, a Flushing resident, has bagged a windfall by winning the Michigan Lottery's Lucky for Life game, securing herself $25,000 a year for life. The 59-year-old Genesee County woman made the fortuitous match of five white balls in the February 20 drawing, landing the impressive prize, ABC12 reported.

Opting for a different route than the annuity, Russell chose a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000—an option that offers an immediate bolus of cash as opposed to the elongated guarantee of $25,000 installments over 20 years, or life, according to Mid-Michigan NOW. After the revelation of her win, she took a screenshot and sent it to her husband, she told WNEM, to which, he immediately replied: ‘Get home ASAP!’ so that we could get the ticket locked up in a safe spot.

The winning ticket was purchased at Borders Corner Store in Mount Pleasant, a seemingly inconspicuous spot that turned out to be the launchpad for Russell's financial soar. Plans for the winnings are already in motion, with Russell declaring her intent to purchase a car, share a portion with her children, and the, rest to be tucked away for retirement. "I play Lucky for Life regularly," Russell said in a statement obtained by Mid-Michigan NOW. "I pulled up to the gas station to purchase a ticket, but before going in, I checked the Lucky for Life ticket I had in my purse by scanning it on the Lottery app. When $25,000 a year for life came up on the screen, I was thrilled!"

Indeed, the Lucky for Life game has justified its title in Michigan this year, with players claiming the top prize five times already in 2024, and four of those wins coming in March alone, as documented by WNEM. At $2 per play, the tickets offer a range of win possibilities, from a few dollars to, as Russell now knows, a stream of cash that can fundamentally alter a person's financial picture.