Cheng “Charlie” Saephanan immigrant from Laos who has been suffering from cancer for eight years, was one of the winners of the 1.3 billion dollars that were in the jackpot of the last draw of Powerball.
Charlie’s story is moving and marked by “signs” of destiny. The man, 46, received his last chemotherapy treatment last week. But since last April 6, the Laotian immigrant was the custodian of the winning ticket of the million-dollar draw.
This is not everything. The story has other emotional details. Charlie will share half of his prize with his friend Laiza Chao, 55, of the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. According to APboth friends agreed to a lump sum payment of $422 million after taxes.
Chao had contributed $100 to buy a batch of tickets with them. After purchasing the shared tickets, Chao sent a photo of the tickets to him and he told her, “We are billionaires.”
It was a joke before the actual draw. However, the next day they won. “Now I will be able to support my family and my health,” Charlie said upon learning of the winner. “Plus, I will be able to find a good doctor for me.”
At a press conference held by the Oregon Lottery this Monday, the Portland-based immigrant said that, as a cancer patient and father of two young children, he has been asking himself all along: “How am I going to have time to spend everything?” this money? How long will I live?”
Now Charlie, his wife Duanpen (37 years old) and his great friend Chao have a great story to tell, plus a few hundred million in their bank accounts.
