Upcoming Trip…….

Kerissa • October 26, 2013

I don’t really want to go into the gritty details, but this has been a hard week physically.  Long story short, my mitochondrial disease appears to be progressing..
 
Not knowing what will happen next symptom-wise always keeps me on the edge of my seat.  But, I am encouraged that, when all else fails, Christ remains faithful .  Thank you, Lord, for your unending grace!

Up until a couple months ago, traveling back to Cincinnati, Ohio wasn’t in the “plan.”  But here I am, planning another trip back.  This December.  My geneticist has referred me to Genetics again (but this time to see their mitochondrial specialist), Pulmonary Medicine, and Gastroenterology (Motility Disorders Program).  I’ve also been referred to Cardiology and am hoping to get appointments with Spine Medicine and Neuromuscular as well.  This will be the whole deal..

Hopefully after I see this mito specialist, I can begin “treatment,” including the “ mito cocktail.”  For my TRAP1 gene mutation, Dr. Boles through Courtagen said that aggressive antioxidant therapy can be helpful, and I look forward to starting that.

Even though this Ohio trip is in the works, I still hope to see that mitochondrial specialist in San Diego.  But I’m not sure if or when that will be..  Especially since my spinal tap results are still pending.

Your prayers for wisdom would be appreciated!  Pray that I would patiently endure and not be focused on all my symptoms all the time.

love and hugs,

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