FOR A GOOD CAUSE:

Aside from her pregnancy, Costa Mesa resident Robin Lassen said she had never undergone any intensive medical procedures prior to her kidney donation four years ago.

But when both her daughter’s friend and his sister were diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease in 2004, Robin said she and her daughter, Amanda Imkamp, sprang into action.

As it turned out, Imkamp’s kidney was a perfect match for her friend — unusual luck for those not related by blood — but Lassen, 51, was disappointed to learn her organ was not a suitable match for the young man’s sister.

“I told her, ‘We’re going to find you a kidney too,’” she said.

Lassen researched regulations in the woman’s home state of Rhode Island. She discovered she could donate a kidney to a matching recipient to put her new friend on the top of a kidney waiting list.

After deciding to opt into the program, Lassen assumed a phone call would come sometime over the next few years to send her back East for surgery.

It didn’t quite work out that way, she said.

“I actually got the call pretty quickly, saying ‘Come out here, we have an altruistic donor from New York who wants to donate, and we can give your kidney to your patient if you come back now,’” she said.

Lassen got on a plane headed east and spent about three days in the hospital. She was surprised at how quickly she was able to recover — she went into surgery on a Monday and went back to work the next week.

“It wasn’t too bad, actually — I’m kind of a tough guy, a grown-up, one of those people that likes to prove to people you can be strong,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful to know how strong your body is.”

Ever since, Lassen has volunteered with Donate Life, a group that encourages organ donations. In California, people can donate non-essential organs, like one of their kidneys, or opt into a DMV program to have their organs removed in the event of one’s death — a big help in a state that holds 20% of the nation’s demand for organ transplants.

As part of their work with the organization, Lassen received a proclamation from the Costa Mesa City Council Tuesday night, acknowledging April as National Organ Donation Month.

“I think it’s an extremely worthy cause; those willing to donate tissue or organs can provide great benefits to our community,” Mayor Eric Bever said. “It helps Californians help each other.”

Lassen said she’s heard a lot of myths about organ donation such as you’re less likely to have your life saved in a hospital if you are an organ donor, that the surgery is dangerous, that you’re more susceptible to disease. But those are all silly reasons not to donate, she argued.

“I joined because I want to educate people about the facts,” she said. “People should know that if you’ve donated a kidney and you get into an accident, you are first on the list for a new one; kidney donors, on average, live longer lives; and no one has ever died from the surgery.

“It’s extremely routine — your body is set up to live with one kidney, and besides, you aren’t eligible for the surgery unless you are in perfect health.”

Donate life will hold a Run/Walk challenge April 26 at Cal State Fullerton. More information on the event and group is available at www.donatelifeoc.org/

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].