Lost Then Found

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“Until the lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” The Soy Autor writing process was developed in collaboration with young affected by violence in El Salvador. In 2017, this innovative program expanded into Chicago to create tangible, high quality opportunities that nourish the minds, expand the voices and share the personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated.Through the process of drafting, revising, illustrating and publishing memoirs, the Authors’ Circle participants develop self-reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie, and positive self-projection to create new life narratives.

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Lost Then Found Martin Chavez



It is vital to me that if no one understands this, I hope my daughter does. I’ve been misunderstood in society where I faced a lot of challenges. No direccon, lost in this world, I must ask myself, “Who am I really?” Am I just human flesh trying to seek a good soul or am I just a devil trapped in my mind?”

Either way I know deep down inside I was fighhng a baale from within.


As I feel the vibraaon of my phone buzzing in my pocket, I pull the cell out. There’s a picture message from Kassandra with a pregnancy test saying “I’m pregnant!” I instantly call her to confirm that she wasn’t playing games with me. She said she took three tests to make sure and they all came back posiive.


I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was only fifieen years old and on my path to self-destruct. Born and raised in Chicago Heights, shooongs, fighhng, ssck-ups, drug dealers and gang violence was my environment. I was stuck in bad habits, always in the streets, kicked out of school and dropping out.

One day reality hit me in the face. I was going to be a father. I knew I needed a change from the fast life I was living.


AAer a while I moved in with Kassandra, her sister and Barbara. We found out we were having a girl, so we started thinking of different names. I came up with the most perfect name to call her, Sophia which means “wisdom.”

A month before the due date, I’m already anxious. I set up the baby’s crib, got clothes and diapers so we would be ready when she comes home.


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May 8, 2011 I got blessed with the greatest gii God could have ever given me--the day my beauuful daughter Sophia May Chavez was brought into this world. When I ďŹ rst held her in my arms, I made a promise to love my daughter to the end of the world and never leave her side.


When my daughter came home, her mother had to be on bed rest. So I took over caring for our newborn baby--staying up feeding her, bathing and changing her diapers with the help of Barbara. Watching her grow every second of the day, I learned on the way and it taught me responsibility at a young age.

Never a moment I missed from teaching her to pooy train, to walk and talk, and doing fatherly duues. Sophia showed me how to love.


During the years I grew a close bond with Barbara who is an influennal person in my life. To this day she is helping raise Sophia. When I first moved in, she took care of me as if I was her own. Always making sure I am straight, giving me the helping hand when needed and bringing me up from under my problems. Barbara inspired me to strive for beeer and never seele for less. So, that’s exactly what I did.


Sophia coming into my life changed me.


I didn’t want her growing up seeing and going through what I went through. I wanted beeer for her, so I couldn’t seele for the streets. With my daughter as my moovaaon and Barbara giving me the extra push, I got back into school and got my life together.


Woke up from my dark reality of a dream I’m ssll in.

Cook County Jail is trying to break me, put me through hell, like I’m cursed. I must try and break the spells. My ankles scarred, my wrists swelled, shackled and handcuffed.

Will I ever break free from these chains on my skin?


La vida no es como la ves, para aprender, hay que caer.

Someemes I think I’ve been buried, but actually I’ve been planted.


As I sit in my cell on my bunk bed, I think about my life with my face down. Then I look up and see a picture of Sophia and my family.


My whole life I’ve been in baales, but this baale is against the court system. I’m not just fighhng for my life, but for Sophia’s. I want to be there to walk her through life and protect her.


I acknowledge the power of divine life flowing through me as I open myself to being more of who I was created to be. I’ve been misrepresented by those who don’t know me, only my name.


Despite my life’s struggles and scars, Sophia helped me to find who I really am. I am peace and I am a father. I won’t stop fighhng unnl I come home to my daughter and my family.


Shout out to my family for the love and support. Always being there. Thank you, Sophia, for making me the man I am and showing me the true meaning of love. You are my world and I love you all.




I am Martin Chavez Grew up on the westside of Chicago From Coronas and Modelos I am from Only The Family Where loyalty makes you family, not blood I am from the Humble Beast and Peace of Mind I am a father to Sophia May Chavez From guiding her through life To showing her my love I am from Irma, Martin and Barbara From life is what you make it To I got to learn from my mistakes.


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