The winner of the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who is receiving chemo treatment while battling cancer for the last eight years.
Cheng, who goes by “Charlie,” Saephan is cashing in the $422.3 million lump sum after taxes from the Oregon Lottery.
“First, I want to thank God for giving me this beautiful prize,” he said.
Charlie plans to bless his wife, Duapen, and friend Laiza Chao, who chipped in $100 to purchase more than 20 lotto tickets.
He bought the winning ticket at a Portland-area Plaid Pantry in early April. He wrote the numbers on a piece of paper and put it under his pillow, praying each night that he would win.
“I prayed to God to help me,” Charlie, who has two young kids, told the public.
The day before the drawing, Chao sent a photo of the tickets to Charlie and joked, “We’re billionaires.” But they won the next day and became millionaires.
“I will be able to provide for my family and my health,” Charlie said, adding that he’d “find a good doctor for myself.”
Charlie added that he plans to continue playing the lottery because he might get lucky again.
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Caleb Parke is a Newsmax correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.
