Lamoni, Iowa, man Cody Shields won $100,000 on a scratch ticket days before his 34th birthday after making a spur-of-the-moment purchase following work.
A spur-of-the-moment decision after work has given Cody Shields of Lamoni, Iowa, an unexpected $100,000 prize just days before his 34th birthday.
Shields stopped at Pump & Pantry on Douglas Parkway in Urbandale after work to pick up a pop and a candy bar. On a whim, he also decided to buy a $10 Diamond Dollars scratch ticket.
He scratched the ticket in his truck and quickly realised something was different.
“I scratched the ticket and I’m like, ‘Well, this birthday’s a little extra special this year!’” Shields said. He turns 34 on Sunday.
Shields said he initially did a double-take when he saw the result. He then tried to scan the ticket with his phone, although the excitement made it difficult to keep his focus.
“I was sitting in my truck scratching and kind of did a double-take,” he said while claiming his prize at the Iowa Lottery’s main office in Clive. “After I scanned it with my phone after dropping my phone a couple of times, I finally gathered myself and thought, ‘OK, I’ve got to go back in there and see if this is the real deal.’”
Shields returned to the store and asked an employee to check the ticket using the store terminal. The result confirmed what he had hoped was true.
“He said, ‘Oh, my gosh! You won $100,000!’” Shields recalled. “I’m like, ‘It’s a good day! It’s a win!’”
The unexpected money has also given Shields an opportunity to help others. He said he plans to assist a couple of friends in need while putting some of the winnings towards his future.
“I definitely won’t go out and blow it,” he said. “It’s probably a one-time thing — hopefully not! — but I’m going to choose my next steps wisely.”
For Shields, a routine stop for a few snacks has turned into an especially memorable birthday week, with $100,000 arriving just before he turns 34.
