A mum received the all-clear from cancer - then scooped £100,000 on a lottery scratchcard thanks to her 'lucky elephants'.
Louise Tate, 42, bought her £2 Lions Share Doubler card as she waited for husband Stuart to finish work.
He picked her up from a supermarket near their home in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
When she scratched the card, it revealed three lucky elephants – landing her the top prize of £100k.
Just days earlier, Louise had been given the all-clear after a melanoma developed behind her left eye during lockdown.
With no other option for treatment, she had it removed and a prosthetic eye fitted earlier this year.
By a strange quirk of fate, she had developed a love of elephants, during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
"At one point some friends suggested that elephants bring you luck," she said.
“I felt I needed enormous amounts of luck so I started to collect them – every time I went out I would try to buy an elephant.
"Friends would arrive at the house with elephant ornaments for me too."
She now has a collection of around 30 around her home.
“I just couldn’t quite believe it when I scratched three very lucky elephants, scooping me the top prize of £100k," she added.
“I still don’t think this amazing news has fully sunk in.”
After being presented with her cheque, she took the opportunity to thank her family and friends for their 'amazing support' over the past few months.
Louise, a pharmacy assistant, shouted at her husband to 'stop the car!' as soon as she saw the elephants on the card.
She recalled: “Stuart just thought I was winding him up and kept saying you have got it wrong.
"I kept saying, no, I haven’t, you really MUST stop the car!
“He did eventually pull over and I don’t know who was more shocked.
"I think we both went through every emotion, from joy, to shock to breaking down in tears. Neither of us could believe it.
"It wasn't until we called Camelot and saw the six figure sum in our bank account that we started to believe this really was happening."
Louise will buy a 'very special' gold elephant pendant with her winnings - and intends to adopt an elephant too.
A family holiday to Florida with their daughter, 10, and six year old son, are high on their 'bucket list'....along with paying off the mortgage.
Louise and Stuart, 45, a parts advisor in a garage, have no plans to give up work or move house, but will be doing some DIY on their home.
Louise bought the winning National Lottery Scratchcard in Morrisons, Doxford Park, Sunderland.
