Celebrating the life of Joy Marie Dominqu (Frisco), age 34. Joy was born June 5th, 1978 and died peacefully in her home on December 26th, 2012.
Joy is predeceased by her grandfather, James Frisco Sr., Uncle John Frisco, Naomi Baxter, Arthur Baxter and great-niece Hailey Freeman. She is survived by her Husband, Joe Dominqu; Son, Austen Frisco; Parents James Frisco Jr. and Patricia Martin; Grandmother Theresa Rose Frisco; Brothers Jason Frisco and wife Jessica, Timothy Frisco and wife Kim, Andrew Frisco and wife Whitney, and Robert Frisco; Sister-in-laws Samantha Messer and Anita Dominqu; Nieces and Nephews Amber Freeman, Christopher Messer, Jami Newman, Cory Newman, Sasha Gausman, Jonah Frisco, Madeline Frisco; Great nieces and nephews; Isaac Freeman, Christian Messer and Emma Messer.
Joy was born in Indiana and grew up in Amery, WI. She and her husband, Joe moved to their current home in Cottage Grove, MN several years ago where Joy spent her time creating art, reading, writing and listening to music. She also really enjoyed Little Debbies. Most importantly she loved her family and friends very much. Joy has suffered with medical challenges since she was a young girl. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and all who were fortunate to know her.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 31, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Congregational Church in Amery. There will be a visitation for the hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Amery Cemetery.

My Story with kidney disease..

I was born on June 5th, 1978 I was rushed into surgery and this is how my life began... A tumor. My tumor was called a Sacrococcygeal Teratoma Tumor. Which was located on my butt. The tumor had pushed up on my bladder & kidneys. When they removed it they removed my tailbone along with the nerve in my spine. Which pushed up on my spine, bladder, and kidneys.
Which is what led to my next surgery in 1982, this surgery was a retransplanting of the ureter. After surgery my Mom was told she will have to catherize me 4 times a day.. possibly for the rest of my life.

At some point I had gotten better, ending self cathing till the age of 10. I was in softball which I loved!! After my game I felt very ill. I was then hospitalized and was told I would have to start cathing again 4 times a day.. This time my illness had a name they called it Hydronephrosis. I had been doing okay getting infections here and there. As I got older my kidney disease then was called Pyelonephritis. I was 16 when I was told I would need a transplant at sometime.
The pyelonephritis and fungal infection is what led to 2001 when I lost my left kidney. They removed the left kidney and saved the right.. Over the next 4 years... I got married to my amazing husband, Joe on August 24th, 2002!! He has been by side 10 years plus the year we dated..
In 2003 we moved to Las Vegas and my kidney disease started progressing.. They began to prep me for dialysis out there.
2004-2011 They tried to place a dialysis shunt in my left arm which started to clot. Then I ended up with dry gangrene and the tips of my middle finger & thumb, half of my index finger auto amputated from the dry gangrene. Doctors put a wound vacuum on my arm to try and close it.. This was beyond painful. I had a total of 10 surgeries on my arm & hand. My husband and I flew home and went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We ended up moving back home to MN. Joe left me with my brother and his family to return to Vegas and pack our things, and then returned back to MN with our possessions.
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN saved my left arm by performing another surgery Left Brachial to Ulnar Bypass Graft using Saphenous Vein in 2005 It is stated as Severe Upper Thromboses resulting in Left Arm Ischemia.
Shortly after this I went in.. They put an emergency line in my neck for dialysis. April 2005 I began dialysis.. I was on dialysis for 6 months & on Oct 14th, 2005 my non related Aunt donated her kidney to me. During transplantation they removed my right native kidney (non working kidney) replacing that with my new one! The Pyelonephritis has been the issue.. It is in fact the result of losing both my native kidneys. I still suffer from infections since transplantation.. My creatinine level has gone up and we are now in the process of trying to save my transplanted kidney. The pyelonephritis has come back and is present in my transplanted kidney. I currently only have 10 15% kidney function. I have since then been placed back on the renal diet the diet that you can't have any chocolate on.. or A Starbucks coffee either..! (Well not a good one anyways ha ha gotta learn to love soy!) You can't have anything fun to eat, but at least I am keeping my sense of humor this time! I don't know exactly what our future holds in place for me right now.. But, I just want to say that whatever happens.. I know in my heart that God has his hands on me.. I know he does. And, I want nothing more than to resume my life as normal as it can be. I'm not going to lie and say everyday is peachy because it's not.. But, I am loving all the laughs my family & friends are def keeping my spirits up! Thanks to them for all their support!
June 5th, 2011 Final surgery performed by Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN on my hand to try and open it up so I could possibly work. I was warned of the risks the main risk was amputation up to my shoulder.. I had to take the risk, I wanted to be able to use my hand.
Update: On Sept 1st, 2011 I began dialysis again.. My kidney is shutting down. I will do dialysis 3 times a week for 3 and a half hours. Thank You to all of you for all of your support during this time..
We began training at the Davita HHQ Center in St. Paul, MN in Feb of 2012.
After starting dialysis my doctor thought it would be a good idea for me to do home hemo dialysis, which at home you do this 5 days a week. We trained everyday Mon-Fri, Training was 6 weeks, and we were able to come home passing training. We did home hemo dialysis for 6 months, and then it became too much because our lives revolved around dialysis.. We wanted our normal routine back so we decided for me to go back into In-Center at the Davita location in Cottage Grove, MN. Now we are back to 3 times a week Tues, Thurs, and Saturdays for 3hr and 15 minutes. Since returning to in-center things have become difficult as my body does not tolerate treatments only 3 times a week.
July 20th, 2012 I had my transplanted kidney removed after surgery I had came home & got an infection in my incision we made 3 trips up to the U of M and then on the 3rd trip I was rushed into surgery again to clean out the infected incision which was then upgraded to a wound. A wound vac was put on it's like a vacuum, it sucks fluid out, and then also heals from the inside to outside of the wound so it can heal properly without another possible infection. We did wound care 3 times a week at the U of M.. Plus dialysis 3 times a week.
Since starting dialysis on Sept 1st, 2011 I have had 7 dialysis accesses put into my neck, with each one failing to last. Currently I'm on my 7th dialysis access. One line clotted last year in Oct 2011 in my right internal jugular vein. I was placed on warfarin for blood clotting. The last line that was replaced I went into respiratory distress on the operating table. Very scary thought to think you may die trying to get a line in so you can live. Back in 2005 when I had to start dialysis then I made it with 1 dialysis access for 6 months till my non-related aunt donated her kidney to me.
I have suffered countless kidney & bladder infections, the majority of them resulting in multiple hospital stays through-out my life. I lost count along time ago.
My bladder refluxes up into my kidney, which then pushes the urine into my kidney. This is the cause of a lot of infections. Since removing my transplanted kidney, I have to flush my bladder 1 a week and if an infection is present I do it 3 times a week. I make no urine, dialysis is highly important and keeps me alive. Hemo dialysis pulls fluid off I am only allowed 6-8oz cups of fluid a day. After the transplanted kidney was removed they had ran IV Fluids in me nonstop, which led to fluid in my lungs. We have finally pulled all the fluid off, but I have pneumonia now & am currently being treated for it. I have high blood pressure now and currently take a blood pressure medication. My blood pressure is either high or very low. Potassium level is quite high right now, which can cause cardiac arrest, so with a few dialysis treatments this should return to normal. Dialysis is the only way to remove the potassium out of my body. I have had many nights where breathing is difficult, I struggle to breath, and I always try to make till dialysis.. But, calling 911 is probably something I should do.. But, I don't like bugging my husband to wake up, as he works so early in the morning.
My sister in law has been taking care of me since transplanted kidney was removed, she brings me to the majority of my appointments, dialysis treatments, and did wound care before vac was put on and then after it was removed. Between Joe & Sam I am very well taken care of. Doing daily household chores sometimes is too much for me.. But, I feel like if I make myself do it, I won't be laying around and giving into my illness & keeping myself busy is good for my mind.
After transplanted kidney was removed they also stopped my anti-rejection drugs which is not good because my body can build antibodies making is very difficult to find a matching donor.
After the care I received I was a bit discouraged and at this time am declining another transplant, because my fear is that they will not care for me as they should. I am not saying no to the future I just am not as trusting as I used to me. So I will remain on dialysis till I decide I can fully trust these doctors. I refuse to take another kidney and have it fail because doctors are incapable of caring for my complex medical history.

I have had other rare infections a high ammonia level which your not suppose to have.. It nearly killed me in 1996. I also had a rare fungal infection when I lost my 1st native kidney, which also nearly killed me.
My husband and I have been through a lot in our 10 years of marriage 11 years together. It's exhausting being a caretaker and I'm very blessed to those few people who cared enough to help.
Oct 29th 2012 surgery for PD access is scheduled. This is a different form of dialysis. The doctor said I am not a good candidate for this surgery due to the major surgeries I have had on my stomach. He said we can go in with a camera and look, if it's too bogged down with adhesions he will not be able to perform the surgery for the dialysis access. He said if there are a few adhesions then he can cut them out, and get the line in.. This form of PD is my only hope, my only option, my abdomen needs to be open so that the dialysis solution can flow back and forth. It will clean and remove toxins out that way. Surgery will be 2 hours. Fingers crossed I need this access!
I am probably missing some other things about my medical history.. But, I believe I have the most important things listed.
I have had countless doctor visits, tests of all kinds, hospitalizations, medical bills in the tens of thousands, and have suffered a great amount of pain during my illness. Thank You for taking the time to read through this.

Thank You & God Bless You,
Joy & Joe Dominqu