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Cancer Patient Among $1.3 Billion Powerball Jackpot Winners
Tuesday April 30th 2024Oregon trio Cheng ‘Charlie’ Saephan, his wife Duanpen and friend Laiza Chao have been revealed as the winners of the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot from April 6.
It was the fourth-largest jackpot ever won in the history of the multi-state game, having built up during a run of 40 draws. The Oregon Lottery quickly announced at the time that the lucky ticket had been purchased in the same ZIP Code as Portland International Airport, and the winners have wasted little time in coming forward.
It was Cheng Saephan who bought the winning entry. It was among more than 20 he picked up from the Plaid Pantry store. He and his wife are sharing the jackpot with Chao after she gave them $100 towards the cost of tickets.
Asked about the moment that he called Laiza to give her the news, Saephan recalled: “I said, ‘Laiza, where are you?’ and she said, ‘I’m going to work’. I replied, ‘You don’t have to go anymore’.”
All three winners have elected to take the cash option, which works out at $422,309,193.97 after taxes.
‘I’ll Find a Good Doctor’
Saephan, an immigrant from Laos, wore a sash at the news conference identifying himself as lu Mien, a Southeast Asian ethnic group with roots in southern China.
He has had cancer for eight years and had his latest course of chemotherapy treatment last week. He said he had written out the numbers from Powerball (1 to 69) on a piece of paper in the weeks leading up to the draw and slept with it under his pillow.
“I prayed to God to help me,” he said. “My kids are young and I’m not that healthy.”
Saephan admitted he had been left wondering how he would have time to spend all the money, but said he would now be able to live without so much worry. “I will be able to provide for my family and my health,” he said, adding that he would “find a good doctor for myself”.
The win is comfortably the biggest of all time for the Oregon Lottery, smashing the previous record of $340 million from 2005. The Beaver State will now be able to provide additional funds to economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more.
Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said: “I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Saephans and Ms. Chao on this historic win. Not only is the prize life-changing for the three of them and their families, it’s also a huge win for the state.”
Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night, with the winning numbers published shortly afterwards. Make sure you don’t miss out on the next chance to follow in the footsteps of the big winners from Oregon.
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