Congratulations to Vera Traver
Swinging Toward the Light: The Vera Traver Story
Congratulations to Vera Traver who was named the EOW Honoree for second quarter 2025 by The ExtraOrdinary Woman Project.
Vera Traver was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Bloomington, Illinois. Early in her life, she lived with her grandmother, Annie, whom she called Mommy. Vera had a happy childhood filled with sunny days, laughter with her sister Tasha, and cousins she loves like sisters. However, even in the comfort of a loving home, Vera faced hard times at a very young age.
At the age of 12, Vera’s Grandmother Annie became ill. Annie was hospitalized and as a result, Vera was placed in foster care with a family she remained with throughout her childhood. In this stable setting, Vera faced unimaginable trauma. The very person who was meant to protect her, her foster father, became her abuser. Despite staying in the same home, the safety and security Vera needed were nowhere to be found, and survival became her primary focus.
As she grew older, Vera’s struggles compounded. She dropped out of high school, caught up with the wrong crowds, and fell deep into addiction to drugs and alcohol. The weight of her pain and addiction pushed her further from stability and from finishing her education.
During her darkest times, Vera was unhoused, living without a true place to call home. She also lost custody of her five children, a heartbreaking consequence of addiction and life’s chaos that led to jail, institutions and spiritual death.
Everything began to change the last time she went to treatment pregnant again with her sixth child. During her treatment stay Vera watched a woman pushing a baby in a swing, and that simple, powerful moment filled her up with hope. She felt like life was giving her a second chance.
“It was like CPR breathing life back into me,” Vera said. The wind spoke to me, saying, ‘You are a mom too.’ You’re going to raise this child, and one day you’ll be in a room with all six of your kids.’”
With that hope, Vera began the long and tough road to recovery even though many voices, including her own doubts, told her the odds were against her. She decided to surrender to God. She started going to church, Bible study, therapy, 12-step recovery meetings, and slowly but surely, her life began to turn around.
As part of her rebuilding, Vera earned her GED, reclaiming a piece of her education that addiction had stolen from her. Today, she has earned some college credits and has worked hard to provide a stable home. She now owns her house without a mortgage — a physical and symbolic marker of the life she strived to create.
One by one, her children came back to her. In 2018, Vera and all six of her children were together again. “We went to Famous Dave’s,” she said softly. “I looked around the table and thought, ‘This is my dream come true! THANK YOU, GOD!’ Lost dreams do awaken, and we do recover.”
Her children’s names are A’Dream, Tasheka, Tashawna, Dajaun, Aironna, and Natalia — and each child is a reminder of her strength and love. She is grateful for her husband Willy who supports her in parenting six adult children.
But Vera’s challenges didn’t end there. Just one year into her recovery process at age 35, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the pain and treatments, she kept attending recovery meetings until her body was too weak. Then, her community stepped in, bringing meetings to her home, helping with housework, and caring for her youngest daughter after surgery.
Even when her cancer treatment led to a tough infection and difficult surgeries, Vera stayed strong. She cared for herself every step and went back to work as soon as she could.
During this time, Vera still hoped to bring her children back home. A’dream’s adoptive mother reached out to tell Vera that this child belongs home and is meant to be with Vera. With blind faith, Vera went back to court and won custody. Then one day she got a message on Facebook from her oldest daughter who had just turned 18 and wanted to meet. Vera drove to find her, praying all the way. Finally, they were reunited.
“My family is whole again,” Vera said. “Five daughters and one son. And I love and accept every part of who they are.”
Today, Vera has been sober for 19 years. She works at YWCA Labyrinth House as the program coordinator. Vera's passion lies in supporting and uplifting those who are striving to rebuild their lives and draws from her own lived experiences to advocate for mental wellness.
She also sponsors and mentors others, hosts people in her home, cooks, cleans, and fights for those still struggling — because someone once fought for her.
In addition to her work, Vera regularly shares motivational messages of hope in recovery meetings, sharing her personal story to inspire those who are still struggling.
Vera's home church is Christ Fellowship, Pastor Marlon Webb. She says there is no other fellowship like Christ Fellowship. Vera cooks, cleans and serves every first Sunday as another way for her to give back and connect with others. Helping people find their way back home — emotionally, spiritually, and physically — has become her mission.
When asked what it means to be an extraordinary woman, Vera said, “It’s going above and beyond. And I know I do that because someone did that for me.”
Her cousin and nominator Arlene Hosea agrees, sharing, "I believe what makes Vera extraordinary is her lived experiences. Her story illustrates the power [of seeing] just a bit of light in the dark and continually reaching for the tiny bit of light until it grows bigger and brighter. Vera will never stop helping others. That is her way of paying it forward. By the grace of God, she will always work to help somebody else. That is who she is.”
Vera speaks openly about her past and doesn’t hide the pain she’s been through. But she also shares her joy and gratitude. “I love this community,” she said. “There once was a time I blamed the police, the system, everyone else just to learn it was me that needed to change.”
Her journey shows that healing is possible, a living testament of the power of God, recovery and transformation. Vera’s story is one of courage, love, and never giving up, a reminder that no matter how broken we feel, we all have the power to rebuild and find happiness again.
Surrounded by her family, friends and this community, Vera gets to live each day with hope and purpose. She believes that everyone deserves a real chance and she works every day to be that chance for others.
If Vera could speak to someone still struggling in the dark, she would speak colors of brightness. Vera said she would build them a bridge made of Hope — and walk across it with them. Because no one is too far gone, no one is alone and everyone can find their way home, she shared.
Vera’s story is a beacon of hope for those still searching, proof that no matter what there is always a way maker, always a reason to keep pressing forward and always love and restoration waiting on the other side.
By Sarah Burkhardt, EOW board member
