A couple devastated by Superstorm Sandy now has hundreds of thousands of reasons to celebrate: they've won the Connecticut state lottery.
The 2012 storm washed away Mary Ann Daino's Staten Island, N.Y. home. At the same time, Dennis Klaus lost his home in Brooklyn, N.Y.
They were strangers then and moved separately to New Milford, Conn. in an effort to rebuild their lives. They met at New Faith Church -- and that's where they fell in love, igniting hope for a new and better life.
However, the path to rebuilding hasn't been easy for the couple and they spent a year living in a close-quarters mobile home.
Six months ago, the couple took a chance and splurged on a lottery ticket -- and they hit the jackpot. They tucked the ticket away for safekeeping in a safety deposit box until they could determine if they owed the IRS or Wells Fargo any money.
The prize was more than $250,000, but after taxes they will take home about $180,000, according to FOX affiliate WBFF-TV. The couple plans to put the money toward a down payment for a home in New Milford.
"You have to keep the faith, because there is life afterwards," Daino said. "And there's a wonderful life waiting."
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