Experiencing Joy- Part 2

Kerissa • March 14, 2012

“Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.”

Psalm 30:5


There have been days when I would cry great tears on my pillow at night in the darkness, not wanting anyone to see. From those past times, I would ask God, “Why is this happening? Why me? Why do I have to be the one with an uncommon disease? Why is CRPS such a difficult condition to treat?” And deep down inside, I would hear the Lord say to me, “You don’t need to know ‘why.’ Just trust Me.” It’s been almost 2 years since this whole journey started. And today is a special day. I’m experiencing the joy that comes with the morning! 🙂

Today is the six month anniversary of my spinal cord stimulation surgery. 🙂 It just seems like yesterday when I woke up at 5 am, took a rushed shower with Hibiclens soap, and headed to the Center for Health and Healing with my whole family! It was a big day for all of us! At 7:30 sharp, the anesthesiologist pushed me to a packed OR where I saw my three doctors, three anesthesiologists, two St. Jude Medical representatives, and several nurses! Halfway through the surgery, they woke me up to ask me where I felt the stimulation. I barely remember that happening. 😉 And a little over 3 hours later, I woke up with a device inside of me and two incisions on my back! If there were no bending, lifting, and twisting restrictions, I would have RUN out that door with a happy heart! 🙂

By God’s grace, I have come a long way.  Yes, the pain in my feet is still not completely gone, but it’s nothing like it used to be, and I’m so thankful.

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!”

Psalm 30:11-12

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