So much has changed in 12 months.



A year ago at this time, Zach Parise was in absolute agony. He couldn’t sleep. He had to eat standing up. He’d roll into the trunk of his SUV, lie down next to the spare tire and have to be chauffeured around by his wife.



A herniated disc was pressing on a nerve and causing severe leg pain and weakness, and Parise wondered if he’d ever be pain-free again.



So, it was a breakthrough of sorts just before Labor Day when Parise and his wife, Alisha, were able to take their three children and Parise’s mom, Donna, to Disney World for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.



Parise wore the same Captain America shirt and cape that son, Jaxson, wore. Jaxson’s twin sister, Emelia, was Tinker Bell: “We got it at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique,” Parise said, smiling.



And little Theo Jean-Paul, born six months ago in the heart of last season and given a middle name to honor...