BRIAN EPP (right) and one of his sons, Brenden, work on the outdoor lighting of their newly-remodeled house. Jennie and Brian Epp also have two other children, Connor and Christopher. The kids were thrilled with the remodeling of the house.
CONSTRUCTION WAS RECENTLY completed on the Epp family home in Battle Ground. The “home makeover” was done in order to make it easier for Brian Epp, who lives with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), to get around the house. Community members are invited to an open house at the Epp residence Sat., Sept. 29, 1-5 p.m.
It was June 2010 when Brian Epp was first diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Only a few years before his diagnosis, Brian’s wife, Jennie, was diagnosed with cancer.
About one year ago, a friend of Brian’s, Curt Wharton, who owns Wharton Construction and Restoration, had the idea of a “Battle Ground Home Makeover.” Brian’s father, Landis Epp, who is a chaplain with County-wide Chaplaincy, said all the bedrooms and bath facilities are on the second floor.
As Brian’s ALS has progressed, it has become increasingly difficult for him to get around the house, especially to get upstairs to the master bedroom and other areas upstairs. Due to the fact that both Brian and Jennie are on social security income, Jennie said they’ve never really had the funds to do anything to change their current living situation.
Now, about nine months after construction started, the modifications to the Epp family’s house are finally complete. Community members and friends are invited to come walk through the new “miracle” house, located at 204 SW 13th St., Battle Ground, Sat., Sept. 29, 1-5 p.m. The family said they would like to thank all who helped in so many ways to make the home a reality.
Jennie and Brian said that they decided to go ahead with a remodel a little more than a year ago after they determined they probably wouldn’t be able to move to a different house. She said the parts of the house that were remodeled included taking the existing living room and making it into the master bedroom, and also expanding that area to include a master bathroom and a walk-in closet. She said they also expanded out towards the front to make new living room space.
“We are very overwhelmed,” Jennie said about the community’s support. “Especially when we don’t have a penny to make it happen. It’s really a blessing to see how many people are willing to step forward and it’s an honor to know so many people care about us and are concerned for our safety and want to help make life a little easier.”
Jennie and Brian also have three sons – Christopher, 12, Brenden, 11 and Connor, 7.
“They’ve gone through a lot of stuff already, so it’s better that we are going to be staying in this house, they won’t have to adjust to any other changes,” Jennie said. “They’re already fighting over who gets the big master bedroom upstairs.”
The Epp family also has a blog where people can go to read about the house and see photos. The blog is available at
bghomemakeover.blogspot.com.
