From Soldier to Single Dad

Mary Grater
Nov 4 · 2 min read

How one man turned tragedy into a blessing.

NEW YORK, NY 11/1/19 FROM SOLDIER TO SINGLE DAD: Michael Torres getting ready for work at SiriusXM. — photo by Mary Grater/MSU Student

Michael Torres did not expect his life to be where it is today but he is happy where life led him. The 37-year-old Bronx native has lived enough for an entire lifetime and has the battle scars to prove it. Michael is a US Army veteran who served from 2003–2009, during which he had two deployments to Iraq in a post 9/11 world. Before his first deployment, he married his high school sweetheart, Lourdes, due to fear of what might happen to him overseas.

After 6 years of serving his country, Michael and his wife made the decision to leave the military. During that time, his wife found out she was pregnant with their first child. With so many changes happening, it was a challenging time for Michael and it was only about to get harder. His daughter, Jasmine, arrived early with his wife giving birth at six and a half months. Four months later, tragically, he would lose his wife due to a pre-existing heart condition.

Ten years later, Michael and Jasmine are thriving in his hometown of New York. It took a lot of work to get there but Michael can’t help but feel like he is truly blessed with his life, especially when it comes to his daughter. She changed his life and helped him fill the darkness left by losing his wife with the joy of having her. Michael believes that everything happens for a reason and all of these things have shaped the man he has become.

Written by

Thirty something still trying to figure out this so-called life. Professional brooder.

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