X-ray Results

Kerissa • September 5, 2012

I received the full report of my spine x-rays on Friday, so here’s the gist of it:

  • There is a rudimentary disk space present at C4-C5.  Not sure what that means yet!
  • I have anterolisthesis of C2 on C3 and C3 on C4 on flexion which then reduces on extension.  This basically means these vertebrae slip onto each other..  That’s not normal.
  • And lastly, I have a congenital C4-5 segmentation anomaly!  My C4-5 vertebrae are fused. haha  Never knew that!  The doctors think I’ve had that since birth..

Right now, I’m still waiting to hear from my pain dr. about what’s next regarding all this and the CRPS pain.  Not sure if he got back from his vacation yesterday or today..

This week, I’m supposed to get another blood test.  This time to check my thyroid function.  When my pain dr. used ultrasound for my latest stellate ganglion nerve block, he noticed my thyroid looks bigger.  So he’s not sure if this is just from the probe he used or if I possibly have hypothyroidism..  I hope not!  I really don’t want another problem added to “my list”..

Please continue to keep Liam ‘s family in your prayers.  I know they would be so grateful.  I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now.  What a day that will be when there’s no more pain and suffering, no more sorrow, no more HLHS that Liam had, and no more CRPS and EDS!!  How amazing that day will be.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'” -Revelation 21:3-4

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