February 2022 Update

Kerissa • February 22, 2022

When I created this scene on my iPad, it reminded me of rolling, green hills where a flock of sheep could graze.

So this verse I lettered from Luke immediately came to mind. Almost 10 whole years ago (September 2012), I was in the ER for left-sided weakness and a left drooping eyelid (this was before I had my mitochondrial disease diagnosis). And my pastor came to visit me in the ER—he shared that comforting verse, and I’ll never forget it.❤

I had my endoscopy last week, and sadly, it didn’t give us answers we were hoping for. It mainly just ruled out things.The problem is, the scope can’t go down far enough and doesn’t even reach the jejunum where my feeding tube is. He did say the medication I’m on can help heal anything that may be down there..

My GI specialist called my surgeon who placed the tube, and they talked about what else could be the issue. The intestinal spasms are so severe that they push my tube in and out which causes horrible pain.My surgeon told him some patients’ pain can get better with a different kind of tube.. She’s out of town, though, and she’s usually booked out as well, so I have to keep waiting.

Trying to take Jesus’ words above to heart and to “fear not.” This latest trial has been going on for half a year now, and I’m not sure if it will ever end.. But I know God has a plan, and I need to trust Him.

Thank you so much for praying for me.❤

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