Surrey resident Michelle De Roma is the winner of the massive $39.5 million Lotto Max prize.

De Roma matched all seven numbers in the Lotto Max Draw that was held on Friday, December 28, 2018.

The mother-of-three was heading to Tsawwassen Mills mall to do some shopping when she found out that the jackpot winner lived in South Delta.

De Roma decided to check her ticket. “I went and scanned it myself and it said ‘it’s a winner,’ and then the number $39 million came up,” she said in a release.

She celebrated with her husband and family before claiming the prize today. She said her husband didn’t even believe she won at first but they checked online again and all the numbers matched.

“He is very happy – he shouted ‘wow!’ and then he kissed me,” she said.

De Roma says the money will be used to travel with her family and to support her kids.

“I have always wanted to go to Rome and I really want to see the Coliseum. For the most part right now, though, I’m just thinking about my kids and their future,” she said.

De Roma also wants to put her winnings towards buying a new home. “We are planning to move out of Surrey, but we don’t know where yet.”

Her lucky ticket was purchased at the Gateway Newsstand at Tsawwassen Mills. She is the first jackpot winner of 2019.

“Our lives have been changed forever,” said De Roma. “Dreams really do come true.”

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