ELLOREE -- The legacy of a beloved mayor of Elloree who died in November lives on in many ways, including a very unique one.

The late William B. "Billy" Bookhart Jr. was an organ donor. When he was on life support, his family was asked if they knew anyone on the list to receive an organ. They named 21-year-old Tommy Felkel, a man Bookhart had known since Felkel was born.

A landscaper, Felkel was in desperate need of a kidney transplant because of a rare hereditary disease called Alport's Syndrome, which was formerly called Bright's Disease. The disease is characterized by progressive renal failure, nerve deafness and abnormalities of the lens of the eye. Diagnosed at age five, Felkel did not have symptoms until a year ago when his blood pressure rose and he experienced a hearing loss and tremendous loss of energy.

"One day we were cooking burgers, and I went to get charcoal at the dollar store," Felkel said. "I could barely make the trip back home because my energy was shot."

Until then, he had worked hard in his landscaping business, cutting about eight acres of grass a day and also cutting grass for the town of Elloree.

A blood test revealed Felkel's kidneys had shut down, and an ultrasound confirmed that he had the disease his family hoped and prayed had passed him by. Doctors recommended that Felkel be evaluated at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston to see if he was a candidate for peritoneal dialysis, where surgery is performed to insert a tube to enable the patient to receive dialysis at home. The surgery enabled Felkel to receive dialysis for 10 hours each night while he slept, from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Felkel's only hope for long-term good health was a kidney transplant, but his parents and sister were ruled out as possible donors. He did qualify to be in the Gift of Life Trust Fund Patient Assistance Program affiliated with MUSC, which provides transplant recipients with limited and temporary financial support in navigating the transplant system.

"We prayed that a suitable kidney would be found," his father, David A. Felkel III, said. Unfortunately, although MUSC called twice, the kidneys they had were not appropriate for Tommy. "They said when the hospital found a suitable kidney, they would call us and tell us when to go."

The Felkel family also appealed to readers of The Times and Democrat to try to locate a kidney for the young Felkel. Then, on Nov. 21, 2005, Palmetto Richland Hospital called to inquire about Tommy's blood type and other health information.

"Mayor Bookhart was on life support, and his family stated if Tommy was a match, he could have one of Billy's kidneys," Felkel's mother, Nancy, said.

Miraculously, Bookhart's kidney turned out to be a perfect match for Felkel, and Palmetto Richland Hospital sent the kidney by helicopter to MUSC. Felkel's mother will never forget the moment the phone call came to her home on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

"I was getting ready to fix lunch when MUSC called and said that Dr. Lin, Tommy's surgeon, believed the kidney was a perfect match, although Billy was 63 years old," she said. "The doctor explained that a younger kidney might not be as perfect for Tommy and after thinking about it, Tommy agreed to receive the mayor's kidney. This was 1:30 p.m., and we had to be at MUSC by 5 p.m."

"There was a big rush when I arrived at MUSC," Tommy Felkel said. "One doctor grabbed one arm and another doctor grabbed my other arm, and they were taking blood from both arms at the same time."

The surgery was performed at 9 p.m. and was successfully completed at 1:10 a.m.

"Tommy insisted on calling his grandmother, Ethelyn Felkel, at 3:30 a.m. to tell her he was okay," his mother said. "I thought it was too soon for him to be talking on the phone, but he called her and told her, 'Grandma, I'm back!'"

Bookhart's other kidney went to a 74-year-old man from Durham, N.C., whose son had done his residency at MUSC.

"The two recipients kidded each other that they were twins," Nancy Felkel said.

Her son's hospital stay was only four days, and then he and his parents stayed at a motel near MUSC, where he was seen at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. each morning and was monitored by a nurse each night for two weeks. On Dec. 5, Felkel returned home.

Since then, his condition has improved dramatically. The 6-foot-3 young man went from 180 pounds to 215.

"I can do everything except lift over 100 pounds," he said.

His energy level has skyrocketed and he is still cutting grass on a limited basis. Felkel's latest project is replacing the boards on his family's porch floor.

Billy Bookhart's widow, Faye Bookhart, is grateful the young Felkel's transplant was successful.

"We prayed for it to work, and we can see how happy Tommy and his family are," she said. "Even though the process of organ donation is difficult for the family, as a result of Billy's act, four people's lives were changed."

"Billy's kidney was a perfect match for Tommy -- a miracle," Mrs. Bookhart added.

Nancy Felkel agrees.

"God works in mysterious ways," she said. "One person passes, and someone else gets the chance to live."

Tommy Felkel's gratitude to the late mayor and his family is boundless.

"I'm glad that Mayor Bookhart was a donor and thankful that he gave his kidney to me," he said.

On Aug. 5, Felkel will be dancing at his sister Angie's wedding, thanks to the generous gesture of the late William B. "Billy" Bookhart Jr.

T&D Correspondent Shirley Upton can be reached by phone at 803-859-5009.

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