There is a $1.5 billion lottery ticket floating around out there that has not yet been claimed but there were some victors in the recent numbers. It included 126 neonatal intensive care unit nurses who put some cash together and purchased tickets for the lottery. They waited for the winning numbers to be announced and on that night, they were thrilled to find they had won $10,000.

After the taxes and fees were levied on the winnings, they each had just over $50 to carry home. They didn’t go rushing off to buy a little something for themselves, however, they decided to do something else with the money.

Perhaps this is the reason why nurses are considered Angels by many people.

Stephanie Brickman is a NICU nurse who was in on the winnings. She knew that $50 couldn’t change a life but they knew that something could be done that would make a difference. They put together their cash and donated it to the two individuals who were in need of it the most.

They discussed the potential recipients of that gift and determined that donating the money was what they should do.

“We never thought in a million years we would win anything at all and then we came one number away from winning $1.6 billion… The majority said, ‘let’s give it to our co-workers, our family, the ones that are in biggest need’ so that’s what we decided to do.”

There was some $7000 after taxes and they split it between a nurse named Gretchen Post and Casey Orellana, a neonatologist. She told a local news station what she whispered to the woman when the cash was handed over:

“I know it’s not the $1.6 billion dollars but here is what we have to offer you. Hopefully, it’ll help.”

Casey’s husband Phil had, unfortunately, been diagnosed with cancer and things weren’t looking good. Phil talked to the news about his illness.

“Since July, I have not been able to work. I have been getting various other treatments for wound care and at the same time, I had also found out the cancer had spread to my lungs.”

They are putting the money toward the medical bills and Gretchen is going to be using it to pay for her son’s funeral. Unfortunately, her 17-year-old son, Jack, took his own life. Gretchen talked to the news about the situation:

“My son on October 23, died by suicide… Jack always had a smile on his face. He did not lead anyone on that this would happen… [The winnings are] actually going to pay for Jack’s funeral which I’m very grateful for.”

The families have a lot of pain in their heart from their situation and although the pain can’t be eased with finances, the financial burden can be helped.

We hope that both families have a much better year in 2019. They deserve some good news after the tragedy they have been through.

You can learn more about it in this video: