Mom buys lottery ticket before church — and she wins big prize in Maryland. ‘Surprise’

Before heading to church, a Maryland mother of two trekked to a gas station to buy a lottery ticket.

The Baltimore woman is not exactly sure what sparked her drive to buy a $1 Pick 5 ticket Sunday, July 21, “but she is surely happy she did,” Maryland Lottery officials said in a July 23 news release.

Her ticket’s numbers included part of one of her son’s birthdays, lottery officials said.

As the mother was away at church, one of her adult sons happened to see the midday winning numbers that included part of his brother’s birthday, lottery officials said.

The son called his brother to see “if he had played his birthday,” the release said.

However, he did not.

The son’s next thought was to call his mother, but he would have to wait “because she was in church,” the man told lottery officials.

After an eager wait, the man contacted his mother, who confirmed she bought a lottery ticket, which scored her $50,000, lottery officials said.

“It was a surprise,” the woman told lottery officials.

So far, the “quiet winner” has only told a close friend and her two sons about her win, lottery officials said.

The woman told lottery officials she plans to use her winnings to pay bills.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Grandpa played lottery for ‘years and years’ in Maryland. Then he landed big win

Lucky feeling leads to ‘fateful day’ for Maryland lottery player. ‘A blessing’

Construction worker ‘goes ghost white’ after learning of massive Maryland lottery win