No matter how hard you may think you have it, life should be cherished each day.

As an individual you need to make a mark in this world to never be forgotten and always try to inspire someone to look up to you. I know someone who has left his mark not only on me to look up to but many others, Alan Cruikshank.

My father talked about Parkinson’s Disease in his last column, which he battles but always keeps his head up and never slows down to fight this disease that has changed his life and his family and friends' lives as well. This is the meaning of my column this week is to discuss how Parkinson’s has affected my dad’s family and me as April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

The day I found out my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s I honestly didn’t know much about the disease except it was something that boxer Muhammad Ali had. My sister and I used to tease my dad during family vacations about the small shake he had in his hands. We used to laugh and say are you nervous about something. We also noticed he was staring at things a lot of the time, which again was an early sign of Parkinson’s. This was years before we knew what he would be diagnosed with and the tough battle he would have to face the rest of his life.

I remember as a kid, the parties my mom and dad would throw at the house with friends, where he was usually the life of the party. He wasn’t at home very much because he was so involved in all of the town’s events, covering them for the newspaper and because he was a man who cared for everyone in this community.

I used to see him playing Elvis in front of hundreds of screaming fans at special events in the park.

Through all of that, my father became and I think, still is Mr. Fountain Hills. He has been here since day one and has built his legacy through Fountain Hills and The Fountain Hills Times.

The moments the residents of this town remember my dad for goes much deeper for me.

Even though he was so involved in the community, he would always take the time to shoot baskets with me or play catch in our back yard.

The memories of the professional sports events he and I attended along with movies and vacations, I will always cherish. This disease is ugly but I have also seen what it can do to you when you’re off medication as I have stayed with my father to watch over him when his wife, Diane, goes out of town. I respect and give a lot of thanks for Diane coming into my father’s life because she has been there for him since they met just before he was diagnosed and she takes such good care of him.

The fight my father puts up every day I couldn’t imagine myself doing but when you have loved ones around you with all the support they give you that’s what keeps him fighting. My father used to pick me up to go to sporting events but now he has to depend on others to take him to baseball games and other sports that he is so passionate about.

When you have a disease take away little things one by one like driving and the freedom to get up and go whenever you feel, a piece of yourself is dying inside. I’m sure it’s important to have friends and family to help an individual like my father feel loved and appreciated.

This disease has changed so much in not only his life but mine as well. Never take for granted what you have and the life you get. My father is my hero because even though he can’t drive up and surprise me anymore with tickets to an event, I will always cherish the memories I have with him including the things we do together today.

I do have hope they will find a cure in my father’s lifetime but I know the battle he faces and many others I have met who battle this disease everyday are leaving their mark in this world for generations to come and their battle will help to find that cure.

My father, Mr. Fountain Hills, is my hero for this very reason and he has built a legacy through this paper that I am honored to continue for him. I am proud to be his son.