Waiting

Kerissa • May 7, 2015

Hi guys,

Just wanted to check in and let you know that I’m hanging in there!  Haven’t posted an update in a while because I’m waiting to hear from my hematology doctor again….he called last week and wanted me to keep a record of my fevers every 2 hours so that he can look at the pattern and decide on further work-up.  He plans to touch bases with me on Friday..  Not going to go into details yet, but something new is going on as well and it doesn’t seem very good.

Last week, I finished my 5th IV iron infusion….now we watch and see how my blood counts do.  I’ll also be getting my copper level checked again in a couple of weeks to see if I’m still deficient.

Still not tolerating tube feeds or solid food, so I continue to remain on IV nutrition.  I will be trying a “blended real food” tube feeds formula soon to see if I can tolerate that.  The elemental formula I’m currently on is even more broken down than the blended food formula, so we’re not sure how this will go..

I saw the pain team this afternoon.  I’ve been dealing with bad headaches every day, and the CRPS nerve pain in my feet is worse because of not feeling well.  So they came up with a good plan.  I will be increasing one of my pain meds to twice a day, and if that doesn’t help, they’ll have me try a different narcotic analgesic—it’s safe, non-addicting, and would be given at a very small dose.  Thankful for my doctors!  They’re so sweet and always decide on the best and safest route for me!

P.S. My etsy shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/BeautyInItsTime ) hit 105 sales this week!!!  And I’m currently putting together a custom order for someone which will be my 106th and 107th sale. :o)  I love making jewelry for people. <3

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