More tests..

Kerissa • July 3, 2013

Yesterday:

My first saline infusion went great!  I don’t think I’ve noticed any benefit yet, but I guess it is a little early to tell..

this is my infusion chair.


Today:

My tube of saliva for the exome sequencing got sent off to Woburn, Massachusetts!!  Here’s to counting down 6+ weeks once again..  This DNA test costs $16,045…!  It’s moments like these when I’m VERY thankful for medical insurance.

I saw my neuro-ophthalmologist this morning, and she did another full exam.  Dr. F gave a few reasons why I can’t move my left eye very well.

1. I either have weakness of the eye muscles due to a mitochondrial disorder…


OR

it’s something entirely different like…



2. an enlarged cranial nerve

3. inflamed eye muscles

So she’s ordering 2 MRIs: a brain MRI (it’s been 7 months since my last one) and an MRI specifically for my eyes called an orbit study.  That will be interesting!

This morning, my geneticist in Cincinnati sent a referral for me to see a mitochondrial specialist in San Diego!!  It’s sad there are none in Oregon..  It will still probably be months before I can get in to see this dr., but I’m excited to finally see an expert who understands mitochondrial disorders.

Enjoy the sunshine!  To end, here’s a quote that I love.  I just read it today, too!

  No man can estimate what is really happening at the present. All we do know, and that to a large extent by direct experience, is that evil labors with vast power and perpetual success- in vain: preparing always only the soil for unexpected good to sprout in . ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

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