Seattle man will use lottery winnings for his mother's care

May 9, 2008, 10:05 am (12 comments)

Washington Lottery

It's quite the Mother's Day gift: A Seattle man who won $1 million on a Lottery scratch ticket says he will use the money to take care of his 83-year-old mom.

Michael McManus, a nightshift supervisor at a local cargo company, has been taking care of his mother for the past six years after she suffered a stroke.

His winnings of $750,000 (what's left after federal taxes) will be used to keep his mother, Maryjane White or "Honey" as her sons call her, in her condominium, instead of sending her to a nursing home.

"I have learned how to love and appreciate what my mother means to me, by taking care of her for the last six years," McManus said Thursday. "We'll be able to fulfill our mission, which is taking care of our mother."

McManus said it has always been his and his brother's goal to keep Honey at her home, but they were worried the expenses of in-home nursing care would force them to sell the condominium. The check from the state on Wednesday washed those worries away, in addition to making this year's Mother's Day special.

"It will be the best one of our lives," McManus said.

McManus is the 582nd person to win $1 million or more since the Washington State Lottery began in 1982, said Jacque Coe, a Lottery spokeswoman.

The 56-year-old McManus claimed the prize after a week of consulting with financial advisers. He bought the winning Washington Millionaire II Scratch from a neighborhood mini-mart and scratched it on the spot. It was the second winning ticket he had bought that day, with the first one bagging him 25 bucks.

The stroke left Honey with short-term memory loss and crippled her ability to speak. Single and with no kids, McManus decided to move in with her to take care of her. In that time, McManus said he has learned about the hard work his mother must have faced when she raised four boys, and it has changed his perspective.

"Ten years ago, if I had won it, I'd would have bought a Ferrari, grabbed a hot chick, and driven to Caesar's Palace and try to win more, and end up losing it all," McManus said. "My message is love your mother and God will take care of you."

AP

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spy153's avatarspy153

Perfect one for mommy's day, Todd!  I'm glad to hear of people like this.  Most people would put their mother in a home even with the money, just because they're too lazy to take of them.   My mother is currently taking care of her brother in her home, as opposed to putting him in a home.  She has been running her but off.  The man has 6 brothers and sisters alive and 9 children, all grown.  And the only one who will take care of him is my mother.  Well, my aunt helps watch over him too.  But they are pretty much it.  I have watched him a few times myself and have offered my help, if they need it.  He is a handful.  He isn't as bad now, but recently congestive heart failure left him unable to feed, dress, speak, or use the bathroom by himself.  Guess who got to do that!  I hope the McManuses know that their good heartedness will be returned to them one hundredfold, despite the money.

JackpotWanna's avatarJackpotWanna

Heaven sees these acts of kindness and gives rewards.  Very good.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Good for him! He really has his prespective in the right place.

DC81's avatarDC81

I know if I won the only family I would regularly help out would be my 85 year old grandmother and occasionally my mother though there would be restrictions or rules, neither are in that kind of shape thankfully. Even if it was only a $10,000 MM most of it would probably go to paying off my grandmother's debts..

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

Congrats Mr McManus! You have your priorities in order! Thumbs Up

mylollipop's avatarmylollipop

Hats off to you!  What a blessing.  Just goes to show that all players are not greedy and selfish.  Your Mom did a great job with you guys.  May blessings be continually in your pathway.

mylollipop's avatarmylollipop

Just gotta say it again...hats off to you!  This is a Mother's Dream Story

dumars798's avatardumars798

Wtg 2 you!

chouquounette

What an Honorable thing to do! Mother's Day Teddy 





Piaceri

Happy Mothers' Day Honey! What a lucky Mom she is. Yes Nod

My Dad used to call his mom Honey, but he was an only child. So did my Paw-Paw. Unfortunately she passed away long before I was born. I would have loved to have met her.

tg636

What else would anyone who's mother is ill do? I would have given any amount to have helped my mother.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Quote: Originally posted by tg636 on May 11, 2008

What else would anyone who's mother is ill do? I would have given any amount to have helped my mother.

There's people out there that would never do that. I would of course and I believe many people here would, but not everyone hs a close relationship with their parents.

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