Few of us are doing enough. Enough to save and extend the lives of those in our community. Not enough of us are organ donors.

My husband, Jim, was a cardiopulmonary patient in Madison. Ultimately, he lost his life to the cardiopulmonary illness he had, but before he did, he was the recipient of a lung transplant. That lung transplant gave us more time. It gave us more memories. It gave us more laughter together.

So many of us look for ways to extend our lives, our youth, our time, but we do not give what we can to extend the life of others. Organ donation is a free and simple way that we can give the greatest, most valuable gift to others, time and life.

We only donate it when we’re done with it. We can painlessly give the very thing another person’s life depends on receiving. We can give to other families more time, memories and laughter with their loved ones. We can give them the time to say what they need to say. We can give them the time to see their children and grandchildren grow. We can give what no one can buy.

Organ donation gave me and my children more time with Jim and it’s something I want every family to know. It’s hope in the midst of crushing pain and grief. It’s sunlight coming over the bay telling us we’re turning from winter to spring. It’s life.

We still keep his memory alive through the annual Jim Hodge Memorial Run. This year is our 10th run and we are looking forward to having runners join us on Aug. 6 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Menominee for a 5K, 10K and Kids’ 1/2-Mile Run. All of the money raised goes toward cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs here in our community. To learn more, go to jimhodgerun.org.

Become an organ donor today. Go to https://giftoflifemichigan.org/ or https://donatelifewisconsin.org/ to register as an organ donor. You never know when you or your family will need the gift of another generous person’s organ donation. We can all save lives.