“Two months ago I had a dream that I won the lottery!” Manuel Martinez said when he presented his winning ticket at the Illinois Lottery Prize Center in Chicago. The lucky Chicago resident’s dream became reality when he scratched an Illinois Millions instant ticket and won $100,000.

Martinez was putting gas in his car when he decided to buy three instant tickets and try his luck. “The first ticket I scratched inside the gas station was the winning ticket. I was so nervous I forgot to scratch the other two tickets,” Martinez said.

After having the clerk double check the winning ticket, Martinez immediately signed the back of the ticket and called his eldest son to share the news. “We were shocked that my dream actually came true!”

Martinez, 60, is originally from Mexico but has lived most of his life in Chicago working in the auto repair industry. He is married with two sons, ages 20 and 25. Plans for the winnings include paying off his mortgage and sharing with his family. His advice to other lottery players is to have faith that your dreams can come true.

The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K, 1491 East State Street in Geneva. The retailer will receive a $1,000 bonus, 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket.