TRENTON, N.J. — In a year where New Jersey Lottery players have claimed over $2 billion in prizes, a school teacher from North Jersey found her own jackpot—strengthening her bond with her 81-year-old father through the simple joy of Scratch-Off tickets.
Her father, battling advanced prostate cancer and having endured open-heart surgery, finds solace and excitement in games like Crossword and Bingo Scratch-Offs. The teacher says it’s not about winning large sums of money but about the joy and hope the games bring to her father.
The family, who emigrated from Peru after the 9/11 attacks, credits the father’s hard work as a welder for enabling his children to achieve advanced degrees and successful careers. For the teacher, buying Scratch-Off tickets for her father is a way to repay his sacrifices and bring him moments of happiness.
Over the past few years, the family has also taken the father on multiple destination vacations, with another cruise planned for this summer. The tickets and trips provide him with something to look forward to, helping him stay hopeful despite his health challenges.
Her father remains optimistic, often joking about using his lottery winnings to pay for the next family vacation.