Helen of Magnolia, Illinois recently won $30,000 playing her favorite game, Mega Millions^®.

A loyal player for years, Helen had never experienced a major win—until now.

“I just happened to stop at a local store, and the prize really caught my eye. The drive home was filled with anxious anticipation,” she shared.

Once home, Helen checked her numbers on the Illinois Lottery website.

“At first, I thought I had only won $30,” she said. “My husband told me I was wrong! He said, ‘You forgot a few zeros,’” Helen exclaimed.

Laughing, Helen recalled, “I yelled, ‘Are you kidding me’—it felt completely unbelievable.”

She quickly shared the exciting news with family and friends, who all offered their congratulations. “I’m the first person they’ve ever known to win the lottery,” she added with a smile.

Helen plans to use her $30,000 prize to purchase a new truck.

“My husband drives a lot, so it’s the ideal gift for him,” she said.