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Kerissa • December 18, 2013

It’s so good to be back in Oregon!!  Missed my siblings so much!

Last week alone, I had 8 appointments at CCHMC—that was crazy busy!  But these past weeks were incredible, and I’m again so amazed at how thorough and caring the doctors/nurses are at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center!  I’m so blessed to have seen numerous specialists there.  It truly is a top not-for-profit hospital!  It’s #3 on the honor roll for best hospitals, but in my opinion, it’s #1.

I wasn’t really expecting this, but the neurologists that I saw this past Friday think I also have a genetic neuromuscular disorder called Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome. (here’s a great summary of CMS: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/congenital-myasthenic-syndrome )

This on top of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome….that’s a lot of syndromes!  My case is so complicated. :/

They agree with Genetics that this neurologic issue is my primary problem, and the Mitochondrial Disease is secondary.  Basically, the CHAT gene mutation that was found in my DNA is disrupting the signals between nerve cells and muscle cells.  That’s why I have muscle weakness, eye movement problems, difficulty swallowing, etc.  They’re not 100% positive (and they may never be because anything with genetics is so complex), but I am already being started on a drug called pyridostigmine which is a cholinesterase inhibitor.  Their hope is that this will improve things and slow the progression.

I’m not worried about the future, though, because this, too, is in God’s hands.  Please don’t worry, either!  My Lord and Savior always carries me through these new diagnoses/symptoms—the past 3 years are a testimony of that! =)

beautiful train set in the lobby of the RMH
Can’t remember if I shared a picture of this painting when I was in Cincy back in April, but this really cute wall is in the eating area of the house
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. ❤️
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
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