RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — Steve Lax's $250,000 Powerball Prize comes after some tough years.
The Archdale man says he hoped and prayed for blessings to come his way and the lottery supplied his 'golden ticket.'
Lax was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
Because of the cancer, he sold his insurance agency. A stem cell transplant while the lymphoma was in remission brought a cure. His health improved, but eight months after the transplant, Graft versus Host disease struck. His health worsened as donor cells attacked his organs.
Steve's wife Amy was steadfast in her support during his illness. Steve believes a foundation of family, friends and faith have kept him going.
"Our story is a story of faith and trust in God’s plan,” said Amy. “We’re making it. We’re able to manage and very thankful God provides. This will make our worries less for sure.”
Steve missed the initial email notifying him he won. Lottery representatives later called Steve as the deadline neared to let him know, much to his disbelief.
“I thought you might be messing with me at first,” he said of the phone call. “Then I started crying. “I’ve been hoping for something like this to happen. And praying.”
After taxes, Lax received $176,876. He said some of the money would help meet the insurance deductible for this year, some will help with other medical costs, some will help with two weddings of the couple’s daughters this summer, and part will go to their church.
“I feel like a quarter of a million dollars,” Lax said. “I feel like a very blessed man.”
Lax won the prize from the Dec. 5 Powerball drawing with a $3 Power Play ticket. His Quick Pick ticket matched four numbers and the Powerball - just one number away from the jackpot. The 5x multipler brought his prize to $250,000.
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