Thomas Newhard never imagined his retirement years would be measured by dialysis treatments, doctor appointments and a 90-day deadline.

The Slatington resident and former Southern Lehigh School District elementary schoolteacher spent two decades guiding second-, third- and fourth-grade students through life lessons and classroom challenges. Today, he faces a challenge of his own: finding a living kidney donor after years of battling cancer and kidney disease.

For Newhard and his wife, Claire, the search has become a full-time mission.

Hundreds of posters have been distributed throughout the community. Friends, former students and neighbors have helped spread the word. Time that could be spent enjoying retirement, traveling or making memories with family is now focused on finding someone willing to consider donating a kidney.

“It’s been overwhelming, but we’re doing everything we can,” Claire said.

Six years ago, Newhard was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in plasma cells found in bone marrow. Claire remembers how quickly their lives changed. During a doctor’s visit just days before Christmas, physicians noticed concerning test results. Newhard began his first cancer treatment on Christmas Day.

The treatment was successful, and Newhard entered remission. But the cancer had already taken a toll on his kidneys.

Over the years, doctors have worked to manage the damage. Despite those efforts, his kidney function continued to decline.

Now, dialysis has become part of daily life.

Newhard’s bedroom resembles a hospital room more than a retirement retreat. Several times each week, he undergoes lengthy home dialysis treatments designed to do the work his kidneys no longer can.

The treatments leave him exhausted.

“It kicks the daylights out of him,” Claire said.

The process was intimidating at first. Both husband and wife had to learn the complicated treatment routine, determined to do everything possible to maintain his health.

Before illness reshaped their lives, the Newhards shared a love of travel and adventure. One of Thomas’ favorite memories remains riding a camel in Morocco during a trip abroad.

Today, travel requires careful planning. Dialysis limits how far they can go and how long they can stay away from home.

Most of their trips now are focused on family. Their son lives in Ottawa, Canada, with his wife and children. The Newhards visit whenever they can, cherishing time with their grandchildren. During an upcoming Halloween visit, Thomas expects to spend most of the evening handing out candy while others make the rounds trick-or-treating.

For a man who once described himself as highly active, slowing down has been difficult. He especially misses working in his garden.

These days, he jokes that he serves as the supervisor while Claire handles much of the work. Neighbors and local children help with mowing, rose bushes and daylilies that once occupied much of Newhard’s attention.

Through it all, he has maintained his sense of humor. That positive outlook has also helped sustain the network of friends, former students and neighbors who have stepped forward to support him.

Two former students and their families have become especially involved, helping distribute posters throughout the area and encouraging others to share his story.

The outpouring of support has reminded Newhard of the relationships he built during 20 years in the classroom.

“I never got tired from teaching,” he said. “I hoped to teach more years.”

Now, Newhard and his family are hoping for another opportunity: more years together.

He is being treated through Penn Medicine and has approximately 90 days to identify a living kidney donor match. The family hopes sharing his story will reach someone willing to take the first step and see whether they might be eligible.

Those interested in learning more about becoming a living donor for Thomas Newhard can visit www.nkr.org/NAJ586.