**BREAKING: Maryland Man’s Itchy Hand Leads to LIFE-CHANGING $40,000 Lottery Jackpot**
In a bizarre incident that has left doctors baffled and lottery officials thrilled, a Maryland man’s uncontrollable itchy hand led him to scratch a winning lottery ticket, securing a staggering $40,000 prize.
John Smith, 32, of Baltimore, was scratching his itchy hand with a ticket he had purchased on a whim, when suddenly, he felt an overwhelming urge to scratch…the ticket. As he scratched the ticket, he noticed that he had matched all the numbers, and his eyes widened in shock.
“I was just sitting on the couch, feeling like I had been put through a washing machine by a swarm of bees,” Smith explained in an interview. “My hand was itching like crazy, and I was scratching it with this ticket, thinking it was just going to be another boring day. Next thing I know, I’m screaming like a banshee and doing the chicken dance on my living room floor!”
The ticket, which Smith had purchased at a local convenience store, was a $5 scratch-off ticket from the Maryland Lottery. As he scratched off the numbers, he realized he had matched all five numbers, winning the $40,000 top prize.
“I couldn’t believe it!” Smith exclaimed. “I thought I was hallucinating from the itching. I had to call my mom to come over and verify that I wasn’t dreaming…or having a skin condition.”
When asked if he planned to do anything special with his winnings, Smith replied, “Well, first things first, I’m going to buy a whole bunch of calamine lotion and a year’s supply of Benadryl. And then, I’m going to invest in a good dermatologist…and maybe a few scratch-off tickets.”
The Maryland Lottery has announced that they will be awarding Smith the prize, and he will receive his check at a special ceremony next week.
In related news, sales of calamine lotion and anti-itch creams have skyrocketed in Maryland, as residents seek to emulate Smith’s good fortune.
**UPDATE:** Smith has just announced that he will be auctioning off his “Itchy Hand” ticket on eBay, with all proceeds going to a local skin care research foundation.
