An immigrant from Laos fighting cancer for eight years won the Oregon Lottery $1.3billion Powerball jackpot and will 'hire a good doctor'.
An immigrant who has been fighting cancer for eight years considers himself ‘blessed’ after winning a $1.3billion Powerball jackpot lottery.
Cheng ‘Charlie’ Saephan, a 46-year-old born in Laos, bought the winning ticket at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland, where he lives, in early April.
‘I prayed to God to help me,’ said Saephan. ‘My kids are young and I’m not that healthy.’
Oregon Lottery officials announced Saephan, who had chemotherapy treatment last week, as the winner on Monday.
‘I am grateful for the lottery and how I have been blessed,’ said Saephan at a press conference, according to KOIN. ‘I am able to provide for my family and my health… My life has been changed. Now I can bless my family and hire a good doctor for myself.’
Saephan, who has lived in Portland for 30 years, bought 20 tickets for the drawing, putting his bets on faith and luck.
He and his wife, Duanpen Saephan, 37, will share the money with their friend Laiza Chao, 55, of Milwaukie, because she contributed $100 toward the tickets, he said.
‘I said, “Laiza, where are you?” and she said, “I’m going to work,”‘ he recounted. ‘I replied, “You don’t have to go anymore.”‘
The prize will be split with 50% going to the Saephans and 50% going to Chao. They opted for a lump sum of 422,309,193.97 after taxes.
Cheng said he is first planning to buy a home in Oregon.
The winning is the fourth-biggest Powerball jackpot in history and the eighth largest of all jackpot games in the US, said Oregon Lottery officials. It is also the largest prize won in the Beaver State, surpassing a $355million jackpot in 2005.
‘I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Saephans and Ms Chao on this historic win,’ stated Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. ‘Not only is the prize life-changing for the three of them and their families, it’s also a huge win for the state.’
Cheng said he will continue to purchase lottery tickets.
‘I might get lucky again,’ he said. ‘I’ll keep playing.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
