Man to spend lottery winnings on Mom

SEATTLE – It’s quite the Mother’s Day gift: A Seattle man who won $1 million on a Lottery scratch ticket says he will use the money to take care of his 83-year-old mom.

Michael McManus, a nightshift supervisor at a local cargo company, has been taking care of his mother for the past six years after she suffered a stroke.

His winnings of $750,000 (after taxes) will be used to keep his mother, Maryjane White, or “Honey” as her sons call her, in her condominium, instead of sending her to a nursing home.

“I have learned how to love and appreciate what my mother means to me,” McManus said Thursday. “We’ll be able to fulfill our mission, which is taking care of our mother.”

McManus said it has always been his and his brothers’ goal to keep Honey at her home, but they were worried the expenses of in-home nursing care would force them to sell the condominium. The check from the state on Wednesday washed those worries away, in addition to making this year’s Mother’s Day special.

The stroke left Honey with short-term memory loss and crippled her ability to speak. Single and with no kids, McManus decided to move in with her to take care of her. In that time, McManus said he has learned about the hard work his mother must have faced when she raised four boys, and it has changed his perspective.

“Ten years ago, if I had won it, I’d would have bought a Ferrari, grabbed a hot chick, and driven to Caesar’s Palace and try to win more, and end up losing it all,” McManus said. “My message is love your mother and God will take care of you.”