Hi y’all! My name is Deanna! I am so excited to connect , share my experiences and journey with you !  I was born in West Texas and spent my early childhood there riding horses, making mud pies, and playing with my brothers and cousins. When I was around eight, we briefly moved to Campeche, Mexico, to be closer to my mom's side of the family. It was such a great experience, and I loved every minute. We moved back to Texas around a year later and settled in the DFW area, where I called home most of my childhood.       
    
                  I also spent some time in San Antonio as a young adult and am very glad I did because it was there that I met my husband! He quickly became my travel companion and life partner. He and I lived all over, including places like Italy, Georgia, and North Carolina. After all that traveling, we landed back in DFW, where my heart has always been. Why? Family. Well, and I love Texas. 

                  I started painting after I became ill a few years ago as a form of therapy. Leading up to this point, I was working a full-time job in finance and started experiencing what I thought were recurring migraines and vision isuues. The symptoms progressed and I had to step down from my job. I didn't know what was going on, and what could've caused such a sudden onset of all these symptoms. After many tests and specialists, I was diagnosed with a plethora of conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Eagles Syndrome, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, spontaneous CSF leaks, mixed connective tissue disorder, P.O.T.S., and the list goes on. I was floored. I fell into a deep depression as I was used to running a household, being a military spouse, a mom of 2, working, and constantly being on the go. It all came to a screeching halt.

         Then, one day, I picked up a paintbrush. I explored different colors, styles, and forms of art. There was so much to learn and, in this process, I truly began to feel happy again. I was creating and doing something, and I was pretty good. My paintings started accumulating, and my husband said, "Deanna, you are truly gifted and should do something with these". Within a few days, I started a website, signed up for Etsy , Zazzle, started an on-line business and started social media accounts. Mind you, this was after many doctors told me I would never work again, but I knew I had this in me. I still take many breaks and need clarification at times as things take longer than they used to, but I love everything about all of this. All my artwork is inspired by something beautiful I see , one of my medical experiences or something that has inspired me and most have stories behind them.

What a fantastic journey this has been. My kids and my husband have been so supportive throughout all of this. They are the most important part of my life and mean everything to me. So, to know they are rooting for me means so much. They are my art critics, my biggest fans, and the loves of my life. I am so thankful to have this therapeutic way of expressing myself and adding a little bit of beauty back into the world while doing it. I hope my story helps others not take no for an answer. We are stronger than we think, and only we know our limits. Like I always tell my kids … reach for those stars because we are in the land of opportunity and can be and do anything we set our minds to. 

Xoxo, 
Deanna

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