By Myra Miller Lifestyle Editor
The Eptings, Jim and Nancy, of Richmond, Virginia, have traveled by recreational vehicle to the Eunice Mardi Gras every year since 2002.
This past Mardi Gras was no different, except this year Nancy Epting did not get to eat Cajun food, watch Cajun Mardi Gras revelers, listen to Cajun music and dance.
Nancy fell inside her RV on the Thursday before Mardi Gras.
Every Mardi Gras season, the couple books a camping spot at the Cajun Campground east of Eunice.
“I knew better than that. I did not turn on a light to see my way to the restroom, and I fell,” she said. Nancy knew her fall was serious as she experienced tremendous pain immediately.
Her husband called 911 and an ambulance arrived at the camper with a special device to carry Nancy out of the small doorway. She arrived at the Acadian Medical Center, and during the afternoon hours Dr. Michael Holland performed a hip repair surgery. She remained in the hospital throughout the weekend.
Nancy was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Jennings. She stayed there for the two weeks. She learned that hip repair surgery required her to not put any weight on her hip and left foot for at least six weeks. She had use of a walker and a wheelchair.
The Eptings next stay for rehab was in Eunice, at Eunice Manor’s Rehab to Home therapy unit. “I did my research before we left Jennings. I chose this therapy unit because I like that it seemed tangible,” said Jim.
Nancy began her journey to walk again at Rehab to Home therapy.
“The therapists were so helpful, kind, friendly. We all became family to each other. I found the unit, and my room to be very clean. The staff was just your typical Cajun considerate people,” she said.
“With hours every day of rehab,I had to learn to walk, sit up, sit down, scoot in and out of my bed. I also did upper body exercises.”
The Eptings left for their home on April 12. They are looking forward to visiting with their only daughter Leah.
Jim, 79, and Nancy, 78, are making plans to come back to Eunice for Mardi Gras, and this time as Nancy says, “I will dance, and I will not fall.”
The Eptings said they come to Eunice for the Cajun culture, food, music. They have made over the years many friends in Eunice and different parts of Louisiana.
“Our friends back home think we are nuts, because we travel so much, and on the road so much. We have actually lived in our RV for eight years. We have traveled all the U.S. and we love it,” said Nancy.
The couple have been married for 55 years. Nancy retired in 2001 after working 15 years as an editor publisher with the American Statistical Association in Alexandria, Virginia. James retired with the U.S. Defense Department at Fort Mead, Maryland, as an electrical engineer where he worked for 26 years.
Jim had to convince his wife to retire. “I told her that we could travel ... travel full time. I even told her that we could sell the house.” Nancy said, “Well, I really don’t want to become a housewife at home!” The Eptings kept their Virginia home.
The Eptings RV features stamp sticker maps of all the places and states they stayed.