Mom, recipients, walk to remember 18-year-old donor

Donor families and organ recipients joined to celebrate loved ones.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

It was a sunny day with temps climbing to the 70s when Pam Soni joined hundreds of others in downtown Indianapolis on a walk to remember. Soni wasn’t just warmed by the Autumn sunshine; she was filled with a peace brought by her companions.

On October 11, Soni participated in the 2025 Indiana Donate Life, “Walk to Save Lives.” She walked in memory of her late son, Vishal, Theodore “Teddy” Soni. A 2023 graduate of Penn High School, Mishawaka, Ind., Teddy was killed in a motorcycle accident on May 3, 2024.

Teddy was known for many things - giving and helping others, grilling juicy steaks, whipping up his buffalo chicken dip, baking pumpkin bread, wearing cowboy hats, and working with his hands. He loved building things and was enrolled at Ball State University pursuing a degree in construction management.

Now, Teddy is also remembered for his gift of life. Five people have received life-saving organs because of Teddy’s wishes. His mom has heard from four of the recipients including a woman from Wisconsin who received his pancreas and left kidney, a family of a young boy who received his right kidney, and a man who received Teddy’s lungs.

Three of those recipients met during the October 11^th Walk. Kevin Sommers, 61 of Kokomo, was one of those recipients. He received a double lung transplant at IU Health on May 6, 2024. He was in the surgical care of Dr. Chadrick E. Denlinger. Three months after Teddy’s funeral Soni and Sommers met. He attended the walk with is wife, Imogene.

Since their first meeting, Soni and Sommers have become friends and advocates for Donate Life. In August Sommers threw out the first pitch at the South Bend Cubs game where the Indiana Donor Network promoted organ donation. In September the two of them volunteered at the Indiana Donor Network booth at the Notre Dame-Purdue football game. And Soni has several more appearances scheduled for in the next few weeks.

The “Walk to Save Lives” is an annual event honoring organ and tissue donors that also celebrates the stories of recipients. Since 2021, the event has raised nearly $160,000. In 2024, the event raised $40,000.

It also raises awareness about the need for organ donation. According to Donate Life Indiana, more than 100,000 people are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. In 2024, more than 24,000 organ donors brought new life to recipients and their families. Teddy registered as an donor on his driver’s license. Interested donors can register online at registerme.org.

“It was a day full of emotions and answered prayers,” said Sommers. “I got to meet more recipients of Teddy’s life-changing donation. He is a true hero to so many people.”

Surrounded by so much love and life is exactly what would have made Teddy happiest said his mom.

“It was all about Teddy’s legacy,” she said.