Cancer patient, respiratory therapist claim $50K in MI Shot to Win lottery

Ben Wilson
The Detroit News

A respiratory therapist and a cancer patient are among the latest group of Michigan residents to win $50,000 apiece in the state's MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes.

State officials on Wednesday announced the six newest winners of the COVID-19 vaccine lottery, including residents from Oakland County, west Michigan, the Thumb and Upper Peninsula.

MI Shot to Win winner Joel Cotton of South Lyon.

Those selected were Debbie Cameron of Port Huron, Brian Louissa of West Bloomfield, Diedre Malloy of Kinchloe, Joshua Long and Brianna Hrejsa, both of Grand Rapids, and Joel Cotton of South Lyon. Each received COVID-19 vaccines in July, officials noted during a Wednesday news conference led by former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who is now with the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Malloy, of Kinchloe in the Upper Peninsula, was vaccinated July 20 and said she had planned to receive the COVID-19 vaccine earlier, but postponed it after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December.

Malloy said she was cleared to receive the shot in July. 

Diedrie Malloy called the $50,000 a "blessing" that will help in paying for cancer treatment.

The 66-year-old travels to Traverse City for treatment, which she called a "financial burden" on her family. Winning the vaccine lottery, she said, has "been a blessing."

"Winning this has been a real ray of sunshine," she said. "I see a light at the end of a tunnel." 

She warned residents that the virus "isn't going away" and that COVID-19 is serious, especially for people like her, who have other medical difficulties. 

"If I were to have gotten this virus, it would have killed me," she added. 

The sweepstakes began July 1 and closed July 30, with 2.4 million Michigan residents entering for a chance to win the cash lottery and 160,000 students hoping to snag the college scholarship prize sweepstakes, according to Kerry Ebersole Singh, director of the Protect Michigan Commission.

Cameron, the first winner announced Wednesday, got her shot July 14 at a community vaccine drive. She noted that seeing what happens to COVID patients pushed her to get vaccinated. 

Louissa said he got vaccinated July 19 after a conversation with his daughter who is starting a family and didn't want him sick again. Louissa noted that he "went through a really bad time" when he fell ill with COVID in November 2020. 

Brian Loussia

He advised people to consult their doctors to see if it's the right move for them. Cotton is the father of young children and thinking about his three daughters pushed him to get the shot on July 22. 

"I wanted to protect myself, my family, and my community," he said. 

Loussia encouraged Michiganders to "play your part" and follow COVID protocols, including considering the vaccination. 

Hrejsa, a respiratory therapist at Mission Point Health Services in Greenville, was the final winner announced Wednesday and joined the press conference to explain how she overcame hesitancy about the vaccine. She said she wanted to wait for the FDA approval of the shot. But working directly with patients and an immunocompromised coworker, she felt the need to do more research and eventually decided to get the shot in July. 

"I'm tired of being anxious about getting sick," she said. "I'm excited to return to festivals and concerts with my friends."

Singh said nine scholarship winners and the remaining $50,000 winners will be announced next Wednesday, Aug. 11. The $2 million "grand prize" winner will be announced Wednesday, Aug. 18. 

Calley, who announced the winners on Wednesday, said it will get harder to convince the ever-shrinking group of unvaccinated residents to get the shot. 

"All we can do is inch forward," he said. "I'm more impressed with 40,000 shots last week than 400,000 in May."

64% of Michiganders have received their first dose of the vaccine, Singh said. 

The first week of the lottery saw 28,000 people get vaccinated, while the last week saw 41,000 get inoculated.