An immigrant fighting a cancer relapse stepped forward on Monday to claim the $1.326 Powerball jackpot he won this month alongside his wife and friend.
The numbers that won the Powerball drawing on April 6 were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, with a red Powerball of 9. One of the over 20 tickets that 46-year-old Cheng “Charlie” Saephan bought at the Plaid Pantry convenience store at 6060 NE Columbia Boulevard in Portland for his wife, 37-year-old Duanpen Saephan, and friend, 55-year-old Laiza Chao, matched the six numbers drawn.
Saephan won the life-altering award from the Oregon Lottery. He informed lottery officials that he has fought cancer before and is now dealing with a return of the illness.
"I prayed to God to help me. My kids are young and I’m not that healthy,” Saephan said.
The three victorious participants will share the cash prize, totaling $422.3 million after federal taxes. The Saephans and Chao will both get 50% of the unexpected gain.
The Plaid Pantry earned a $100K bonus commission for ticket sales, marking it as the highest lottery prize in Oregon's history. The former record was a $340 million jackpot claimed in 2005.
Saephan informed the media that he was born in Laos, but he identifies with the Iu Mien, an ethnic group from Southeast Asia that has its roots in China.
A number of its members escaped from Laos to Thailand during the Vietnam War before eventually establishing themselves in the United States. The Iu Mien tribe allied with the US in the Vietnam War to hinder the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which North Vietnamese forces utilized for moving soldiers and armaments via Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam.
Saephan detailed that he relocated with his family to Thailand in 1987 before moving to the US in 1994. He completed high school two years afterwards and has resided in Portland for over 30 years. Saephan has been employed as a machinist at an aerospace firm, but his tenure may be concluding after amassing significant wealth.
“I will be able to provide for my family and my health,” Saephan said, adding that he plans to find the best doctor for his ongoing treatment.
Saephan mentioned that while the Powerball jackpot kept increasing, he would lie awake at night praying for a win.
"I need some help — I don’t want to die yet unless I have done something for my family first,” Saephan explained.
With a stroke of luck and good fortune, Saephan can now feel confident that he has achieved more than just "something," a success that should ensure family prosperity for many generations ahead.
Powerball and Mega Millions consistently transform lives, and the two leading lottery games in the US are set to provide generational wealth in the near future.
The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday night is projected to be $257 million, with a cash choice of $115.6 million. The probability of a ticket matching the six numbers drawn is over one in 302.5 million.
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday night is projected to be $178 million, featuring a cash option of $81.3 million. The chances of securing Powerball's grand prize are one in 292.2 million.
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