Parise family embraces life's good moments during tough times

(The following story written by Michael Russo appeared in the Minneapolis Tribune on Sept. 27, 2014)

 

Zach Parise is one of the bright young stars in the National Hockey League. Parise stars for the Minnesota Wild. His father also called Minneota home during his playing career in the late 1960’s and ‘70’s. J.P. Parise played nine seasons for the North Stars in the early years of the former expansion team in the NHL. J.P. was one of the toughest players in the history of the North Stars which just happened to be my favorite team growing up in western Wisconsin.

With his son starring in the NHL, the elder Parise is currently waging the toughest battle of his life.

For the past seven months, The day before Zach was return from last the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Zach’s mother Donna gave the news to her son.

 
According to Zach, the doctor gave Dad two years. After he was diagnosed, my mom got in the car crying and he said, ‘Donna, if I’ve got two years to live, I can’t sit here and watch you cry every day. This is just life. This is how it’s going to be.’

The elder Parise has his good days and bad days while battling every day. He has needed to be hospitalized at times over the past several months due to losing his strength and stamina

 

“I am not complaining.” J.P. tells the Minneapolis Tribune, “At the end of the day,  I am still alive, and tomorrow I will still be alive. I am not dying tomorrow. How long this will last, I don’t know. It depends on my attitude, it depends on nature, it depends on how I attack it.”