Nancy Huebner
Jim's Wife
My Story
Jim and I were high school sweethearts.
After we got married, we chose the job offer that would take us the furthest away from Jasper. We were young, excited, and ready to start our life together. We moved to Houston, where we lived for almost a decade. I worked in sales, and Jim worked in finance. Later, Jim accepted a new opportunity, and our life took us to New York.
While we were living there, we received a phone call that changed everything. Jim’s mother had passed away suddenly at the age of 56.
It rocked our world.
In that moment, we realized something we have never forgotten: the people we loved most were back home, and we were only seeing them a few times a year. Life felt too short. Family felt too important. So we made the decision to move back to Jasper.
It was one of the best decisions we ever made.
Jasper is where we raised our two children. It is where we built our life, surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, and a community that has meant more to us than words can express. I have always loved to travel, but more than anything, I love this community and the people in it. I am so thankful we came home.
But Jim’s ability to connect with people has never been limited to Jasper. He has a way about him that is hard to explain. Wherever he goes, people are drawn to him. He is kind, genuine, funny, steady, and easy to love. He makes people feel comfortable. He makes people feel seen. Everyone who meets Jim seems to walk away feeling like they have known him much longer than they have.
Jim and I have been married for almost 45 years. He is my best friend. He is the person I have built my entire adult life with. We have shared everything — the moves, the hard decisions, the joys, the losses, the raising of our children, the quiet everyday moments, and the memories that make up a life.
Now we are facing something we never imagined.
Jim’s kidneys have failed, and he needs a kidney transplant.
When something like this happens, everything you thought you had more time for suddenly feels precious. I think about the life we have built, the memories we still want to make, and the simple everyday moments with Jim that I am not ready to lose.
This community has always shown up for people. Jasper is where we came home, where we raised our family, and where we have been blessed by the kindness and love of so many people through every season of life. My hope is that someone in this amazing community may feel called to learn more about living kidney donation.
And if that person is not here in Jasper, then I pray Jim’s story reaches someone somewhere else, anywhere, who may be willing to help.
We need help.
That is hard to say, but it is the truth. We need help finding the person who may be able to give Jim the chance for more time. The chance to get stronger. The chance to come home. The chance to keep being a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend, and the steady, loving person so many of us cannot imagine life without.
The thought that someone could help give Jim that chance through the selfless act of living kidney donation is almost impossible to put into words. It would mean everything to me, to our children, to our granddaughter, and to everyone who loves him.
I cannot fully explain the love we have for him. I just know that our lives are better because Jim is in them. He has given so much of himself to his family, his friends, his work, and this community.
Now we are praying for someone to help give him more time.