"We treat the boys the same," Bill Duren said. "What we do for Billy, we do for Blake."

Kristie said she's never had a break, but she doesn't really want one. Family is available when she needs to do something, but as far as fun goes, she "never wants to do anything without them."

"If we go to the movies, it's because it's a good one for the kids," she said. "Blake loves the movies," she said.

She's always upbeat, Bill said of his wife.

While the Durens' friends haven't treated them any differently since Blake was born, Kristie has noticed that strangers often shy away.

"Sometimes people stay away from us, like at the doctor's office," she said. "They won't sit by us. Sometimes children will say hi to him and their parents will pull them away. They think he is diseased or something. There are lots of rude people in this world."

And then there are those who lean the other way.

"He got a free pumpkin the other day from the pumpkin patch," Kristie said. "Probably because he was in a wheelchair."

What happens when the primary caregiver becomes the one who needs the care?

Eugene Jones was a big man, strong and kept his house in good shape and the cars running smoothly. He fixed anything that needed fixing on his five acres in Choctaw. He and his wife, Nancy, had just retired and were looking forward to spending their retirement together. They traveled all over the country.

Nine years ago, Gene had major open heart surgery. After the surgery he began having blackouts, TIA seizures and several mini strokes and had been diagnosed with vascular dementia.

The five acres became too much for Gene, and the couple moved to a house in Midwest City. Seven years ago, they moved to a smaller, newer house in Norman, which is closer to family. Both of Nancy's children live in Norman and Gene has three children in Oklahoma City.

Nancy suddenly had to take care of the lawn, keep the car running and do the upkeep of the house. Every major decision had to be made on her own. Should she call a repairman or get her do-it-yourself manual?

She became depressed and Gene "was very lethargic and sat in the Lazy Boy in front of the television," Nancy said. If Gene was up, Nancy also had to be awake. She had to keep an eye on Gene.

"I realized I couldn't leave him alone anymore when I came home from church one day and there was a broken glass dish on the stove," Nancy said.