Comox lottery winner has special connection to BC Children’s Hospital

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Her young son received life-saving surgery at BC Children’s Hospital

Lana McKenzie was busy today weighing some very good options.

She’s getting a look at the new Crown Isle Resort home that could be hers.

It’s part of the BC Children’s Lottery top prize, worth $2.4 million.

Last week a colleague told her an L. McKenzie was the winner of the draw.

“Then I checked my e-tickets and I said, ‘It matches! We won.’  I was shaking and crying.”

McKenzie had bought the lucky ticket as way to say thanks to the doctors and staff that saved her son’s life

Her son Cooper was born with an enlarged kidney and underwent surgery at BC Children’s hospital when he was just six months old.

“It’s such a tiny little organs and procedure and the tubes they use are so tiny,” says McKenzie. “It was incredible what they were able to do.”

The lottery win comes just a year after McKenzie and her family relocated to Comox, from Pemberton  so they could afford a home.

They even sold a snowmobile to help pay for the move but its also meant her husband spent weeks away from home working.

It’s a job he’s now quitting.

“The first thing I said to him when I called him (was) ‘we won. We really won.’ I said ‘you don’t have to work away anymore. You can be at home with the kids. You can be with us.'”

The family ultimately decided to take $2.2 million in cash instead of the the other prizes on offer.

“You know it gives us opportunities we never thought we could have. Maybe starting a business or just being together for a little while and see where things are.”

And they’re looking forward to spending more time together thanks to newfound financial freedom.

Kendall HansonKendall Hanson

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