Can I move a variable from an instance to a family without losing code?

I'm streamlining my code.

I have a bunch of objects with the same instance variable.

I'd like to group those objects under a Family and create the variable on the family instead... but deleting the variable from an object so I can apply it to a Family removes every reference to it from my code.

There's a lot of code.

Is there some way to do this that doesn't require rewriting everything?

Thanks

construct.net/en/tutorials/how-to-upgrade-an-object-to-a-family-319

That pointed me in the right direction - thanks BH!