April 29 (UPI) — A Laos immigrant battling cancer was identified Monday as the winner of this month’s $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot.

The lotto in a statement said that Cheng “Charlie” Saephan, 46, of Portland, Ore., was the holder of the winning ticket for the fourth-largest grand jackpot in Powerball history.

Saephan is sharing the prize with his wife, 37-year-old Duanpen Saephan, and friend Laiza Chao, 55, of Milwaukie, it said, adding that they have opted for the more than $422 million cash option that they have agreed to split down the middle.

The 46-year-old told the lotto that the money will allow him and his family to live “worry free” as he fights his illness.

During a press conference Monday in which he received the giant poster-board check, Saephan said he has been battling cancer since 2016 and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

“I will be able to provide for my family,” he said, stating his prayers were answered.

The lotto said Saephan had bought more than 20 tickets for the April 6 draw and had sought assistance from Lady Luck and God. In the weeks preceding the drawing, he slept upon a pillow under which was a piece of paper with the numbers of the game written out, it said.

“I prayed to God to help me,” he said, according to Powerball. “My kids are young and I’m not healthy.”

He said Chao had given him $100 toward purchasing the tickets, and he called his friend following the draw to drop the good news.

“I said, ‘Laiza, where are you?’ and she said, ‘I’m going to work.’ I replied, ‘You don’t have to go anymore,'” Saephan said, according to Powerball.

The win is by far the largest ever claimed in the state, with the second largest being a $340 million jackpot in 2005.