Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Deal.
Meredith, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Hawkinsville, GA in 1992. I have two siblings – a brother who is ten years older than I am (James) and a sister (Maggie) who is seven years older than I am.They are truly my best friends! I am married to my college sweetheart, Keaton Deal. We have three dogs and a cat – we absolutely adore then and our world revolves around too! I am very close to my family – we’ve been through so much together.
When I was two years old living on our farm in Hawkinsville, I developed a strand of E. coli that attacks your internal organs. Thankfully it was caught in time and I was rushed to Scottish Rite Hospital. The cause of my E. coli is still unknown. There’s theory that I could have picked it up in the pasture (we owned cattle) or possibly something I ate. But this disease changed my life and my families lives. My mother couldn’t live on the farm anymore after this happened, so we then moved to Kathleen, GA where I was raised. By the grace of God, I only struggled with kidney disease from this illness, many children do not live through the strand of E. coli I had. We knew one day my kidney function would fail and I would need a transplant – we just didn’t know when.
Fast forward to 2014, I was 21 years old living in Statesboro, Georgia, for school, just lost my grandmother, mother and was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. It was the hardest time of my life. With all of the stress and doctor appointments I had to move home. I moved in with my aunt and uncle. My older brother was building a house on our family’s land just down the driveway. I moved in with him once the house was done: he’s always taken wonderful care of me and my sister. My uncle (an internist) found my cancer and immediately sent me for an ultrasound and biopsy. After my first surgery to have my entire thyroid removed, the cancer returned. I was referred to Emory where I would have two more surgeries and radioactive iodine treatment. The stress of the cancer and losing my mother was hard on my body, My kidney function began to decrease and talk of transplant started (refer to my blog farmernstyle.com). Maggie, James and my father (also an internist) began the process of finding out who was the best match. My brother turned out to be the PERFECT match. It was a miracle. I had to wait two years for the surgery because of my thyroid cancer. During this time, I was managing a boutique and just simply “coasting“ health-wise. No matter how sick I was, I always worked. The boutique was a creative outlet for me. I ran the social media and helped with buying. I truly believe my endurance to keep going kept my body going. No doctor understood how I coasted as long as I did without dialysis. Finally, the time for a transplant was eve I sent. On February 9, 2016, my brother graciously donated his left kidney. To God be the Glory! This date is two days after the anniversary of our Mother’s death, the Lord brought joy and hope to the month of February.
I left the boutique to work at a local outfitters store as their buyer. The store provided wonderful friendships and a family-like atmosphere. No matter how much I loved the people I worked with a 9-5 wasn’t my passion. My life had been so deep in so many ways, I couldn’t waste away in an office! I needed more time for the people and things I am passionate about. This motivated me to run my own business, on my own schedule.
All four years of high school, I took photography classes and LOVED it, and wanted to grow that passion. I never felt secure enough or in the right place to use it as a career, so, after marrying Keaton, we talked, and I took a leap to go part-time in my 9-5 to start M. Farmer Photography. It’s been just over a year now and my business is growing! I am happier than ever with the freedom, passion and creativity this business provides; I love freezing moments in time for people to cherish forever. Pictures make people HAPPY and that makes me happy. I hope the joy this business brings me shines through to my clients. I am so appreciative to my husband who has supported this business in so many ways, even with money being tighter than before for a little while. I know he is proud of me and wants me to be happy!
So here I am today living with Keaton, our dogs and cat Betty in our tiny, happy first home. We hang out on the porch and dream of future plans. I still pinch myself that with all the heaviness of my past…I am here today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Loss of loved ones, health and anxiety, were struggles along the way but these things made me stronger, and I worked harder through them.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a photographer. I capture families, seniors, babies, maternity, interior design, exterior design, product shoots, lifestyle…everything! I think what sets me apart is the fact that I do a little bit of everything and I’m proud of that! I have a creative family and they keep me busy.
What were you like growing up?
Quite at school, wild at home! We are a silly family with lots of inside jokes. I always have felt I am talked over because the rest of my family is SO loud! Haha! I was an outside exploring type of child and not coordinated in the least. Sports were out of the question!
Contact Info:
- Website: m.farmerphotography.com
- Phone: 4782849443
- Email: meredith@mfarmerphotography.com
- Instagram: mfarmer.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mfarmerphotography
Image Credit:
Meredith Farmer Deal
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