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CNN.com - Powerball winner: 'Still in shock'

Writer Jessica Cortez
CNN Access

Sheryel Hanuman displays her ceremonial Powerball check on Monday.
Sheryel Hanuman displays her ceremonial Powerball check on Monday. 


(CNN) -- When Sheryel Hanuman stopped into a supermarket to pick up a greeting card on her way to a wedding, she had no idea she would walk out with a winning lottery ticket.

The married mother of three purchased five $1 Powerball tickets at a Cub Foods store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of those tickets turned out to be a winner, transforming the medical records clerk into a multimillionaire.

One of four Powerball winners, Hanuman will receive a lump sum payment of $41.45 million -- before taxes -- from Saturday's $295 million jackpot. Hanuman said she was still "shocked" by winning the drawing. She talked about the experience at a press conference in Roseville, Minnesota, on Monday.

QUESTION: Are you (going to continue) working?

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HANUMAN: I don't believe so. I'm not going to do that anymore.

QUESTION: What did (your employer) say (when you gave notice)?

HANUMAN: No, you got to be kidding. Nobody calls with this kind of an excuse. I did.

QUESTION: What does the money (do) for you personally?

HANUMAN: It means a little more freedom. It means I'll have a more secure future. It means a little more prosperity. It means I'll be able to help my family in ways that I wouldn't even have thought of prior to this.

QUESTION: How did you feel when you saw that you were one of the winners?

HANUMAN: I'm still in shock. I still -- I better pinch myself. This is a long and detailed dream.

QUESTION: Is there anything that scares you about this?

HANUMAN: The unreality of it. You know, is it real? When do I wake up? That's kind of scary.

QUESTION: Are you concerned at all about people hitting you up for money now?

HANUMAN: No, I think I got a pretty good plan.

QUESTION: Is there anything that you're going to buy for yourself or the kids right away just to celebrate? What are you going to do?

HANUMAN: You know, I really haven't thought that through in an honest effort to, you know, come up with, "I'm going to do this." I don't know.

QUESTION: You mentioned three children. What does your husband think of all of this?

HANUMAN: My husband, I think he's in shock. He hasn't really said a whole lot.

QUESTION: What does he do for a living?

HANUMAN: He's a nurse.

QUESTION: What will he do now?

HANUMAN: I don't think he's thought that one out yet. I think he may still work for a little while.