We can't  believe that it's been 12 years since Dave Logar left us.   Not a day goes by that we don't think about him.  His passion and spirit still live within everyone that was fortunate to know him.

This personal account is told by Dayle Federico  and captures the heart and determination that Dave personified. Dayle worked at Bacharach Institute as a physical therapist and now runs Kiddie College with her sister Jodie Wells in Northfield, NJ.  www.kiddieklassesgym.com

DAVID E. LOGAR
    This is the story of the most inspirational man I ever knew.  David Logar was born into  a very loving family, the youngest of eight children.  It did not take long before David's exceptional talent in soccer was apparent.  He played Varsity soccer all four years at Lenape High School and was captain of the team his senior year.   He was named 1st team All State, NJ Midfielder of the Year for his senior campaign.  Dave could have chosen to play for any Division 1 soccer team, however he chose to go to Rowan, where each of his seven siblings had attended.  Family was very important to Dave and he made the choice to stay close to his friends and family.  He played as a starter his first two years at Rowan.  He was named 1st Team All Conference and 1st Team All Region his sophomore year and was expected  to be an All-American his junior and senior years.  However, Dave had to go one on one with a challenge far greater than anything he could ever face on a soccer field.
    On July 13th, 1995 Dave's whole life was changed forever.   He was working a summer landscaping job with only 5 minutes left before he was suppose to leave with his girlfriend to go on his family's annual camping trip to New York.  Dave was struck head on by a car while using a leaf blower he carried on his back.  Upon impact, the handle on top of the blower crushed his 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae and his limp body was thrown 40 feet in the air.  Immediately following  this  horrific  accident there was doubt that Dave would survive such life threatening injuries, but thank God he did because he taught me more about life than anyone I ever knew.  David suffered a complete Spinal Cord Injury with resultant quadriplegia as well as collapsed lungs, spleen removal, lacerated liver, and several fractures of his ribs, arms, and legs which required several serious operations.
    David spent a total of 10 months in the hospital including Cooper Trauma, Thomas Jefferson, and Magee Rehab where he faced several challenges.  He had a trach and ventilator in order to breathe and he wasn't able to eat, so he was given his nutrients through an IV.  David had gone down to 88 pounds and had to wear a Halo stabilization device that had 4 pins screwed into his skull to immobilize his neck for 3 months.  David had lost his ability to walk, a promising soccer career, and the independent life he once knew. 
    Through this experience David's amazing strength and passion for life was apparent to everyone around him.  He never gave up and always pushed for more.  He was able to breathe without the ventilator and slowly began to eat soft foods.  Dave learned and taught others to appreciate the smaller things in life and not take it for granted.  Leaving the hospital was an exciting yet frightful experience for Dave, because he was leaving the comfort of the hospital and having to face the obstacles of life in a wheelchair in his home environment.  He took such pride in being able to feed himself, brush his teeth, pick up his pills, drink a glass of water and put on his own shirt.  
    Dave returned as a part time student at Rowan and an assistant coach for the soccer team.  He attended most of the games even in the rain and very cold weather to cheer on his team.  He also continued with outpatient physical therapy at Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation twice a week for a year and a half.  He became involved in speaking to children about spinal cord injuries and had thoughts of becoming a rehab psychologist to help others in similar situations.  Dave required the assistance of home nursing care daily to perform all activities of daily living.  When he had to ask someone for help, it was always with a please and a thank you.  He had the most beautiful sapphire blue eyes and a smile that lit up the room.  He also became actively involved in Bacharach's Spinal Cord Injury support group participating in monthly meetings, trips to the Atlantic City racetrack and the Ocean City beach/boardwalk. 
    Dave had battled several illnesses and complications when he was home from the hospital but overall was in good health.  In November of 1997, he was complaining of abdominal pain and difficulty breathing, and he was  hospitalized for three days.  The doctors ran several tests and could only come up with a urinary tract infection and sent him home on antibiotics.  However, Dave knew his body very well and knew that there was something more serious going on, something they must have missed.  He went to the Emergency Room on three separate occasions including Saturday January 17th with similar complaints.  He was not admitted and again sent home, frustrated that no one could find out what was wrong.
    David died suddenly on Monday morning January 26th, at the age of 22, due to multiple pulmonary embolus (blood clots to the lung).  It happened very quickly and he did not suffer.  It was later determined that the filter put into his veins to prevent blood clots was broken which resulted in his death.
   David Logar was a very special person before and after his injury and he touched the lives of so many people without even knowing the impact he had.  The number of people who attended his his viewing was amazing, the family was there for seven and a half hours hearing the unique stories that each person had to tell.  He will live forever in the hearts of so many and has changed the lives of all the people who knew him.  Without a doubt he is the most inspirational man I ever knew and he will be greatly missed.  
    
    

'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.