Back home :)

Kerissa • July 1, 2014

It’s so great to be home!  We got back from California this past Friday.

On Saturday, I had an unwelcome coming-home present.  The on-call GI dr. told me to go to the ER yet again because I was (and still am) dealing with esophagus pain and wasn’t tolerating NJ tube feeds well.  He wanted to remove the tube as soon as possible (even though I had a follow-up with my main GI dr. today) and do another endoscopy.  Some small ulcers were found in my small intestine caused by the feeding tube.  I’m glad the tube is out because my GI tract was starting to get irritated.

My GI appointment today went well.  Dr. P is going to consult with an OHSU general surgeon (Another top dr. voted by Portland Monthly.  I continually thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful team of specialists!).  Lord willing, this surgeon will be placing a jejunostomy feeding tube directly through my small intestine.  Not sure when yet, but Dr. P wants it done soon so that I don’t drop to 70 lbs.

Dr. P also removed the muscle biopsy sutures in my leg.  The surgical area still hurts a lot—I’m glad I see my physical therapist this Wednesday.  I won’t get biopsy results for at least 2 months (and probably longer since I don’t see the mito specialist again until November).  On June 20th, the dr. removed 4 chunks of muscle and sent them to different labs across the country.  It was really painful having to be completely awake for the surgery.  Hopefully I’ll never need another one!

October prayer request

By Kerissa Lee • October 19, 2025
Dear friends, At the beginning of October, I started taking a new medication for the autoimmune disease. I thought I was tolerating it just fine, but after several days passed, I began experiencing nausea, loss of appetite, weakness all over, and increased pain. 🙁 It’s like I’m experiencing another “mito crash.” I found out that this specific lupus medication affects mitochondria. That is, it causes an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This, in turn, causes cell damage and oxidative stress. I sure wish the rheumatologists would have known about this before prescribing. But I have to remember that Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome is rare, and they’re not “mito experts.” Anyways, the last time I felt like this was back in May.. I’m so grateful to God that I haven’t needed to be hospitalized from this, but at the same time, I’m also sad that this happened at all, especially because I had such a nice stretch of stable health. I’d really appreciate your prayers, that this muscle weakness can resolve soon, and that this increased pain all over will get back to my baseline. Every time I have a “mito crash,” it feels like I’m fighting the flu which always sucks. The pain has been hard to bear. And whenever I’m in the thick of it, it’s difficult to remember that this too will eventually pass. 😢 Pray that I will endure and follow Jesus’ example like this passage from Hebrews 12:1-2– “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross...” Thank you all so much for praying for me. ❤️

Thank you! (+ a prayer request)

By Kerissa Lee • October 4, 2025
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3

Praises & Prayer Requests

By Kerissa Lee • September 3, 2025
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23