Sonny and Blane

Blane Gilbreath, 46, suffered severe head injuries in a car accident in 1986. He lost his sight after having a seizure due to complications. He was 17 years old. At 71 years old, Blane's father, Sonny, is Blane's sole caregiver.

Section:Gallery

Sat., Nov. 7, 2015

"I lost one son and gained another, I love them both," said Sonny Gilbreath as he brushes his son's hair at their home in Post Falls on May 20, 2015. Blane Gilbreath, 46, suffered severe head injuries in a car accident in 1986. At 71 years old, Sonny is Blane's sole caregiver.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Bus driver Mike MacDonald, of Tesh Vocational Center, left, watches through the window as Blane Gilbreath waits for his dad to open the door of their Post Falls home on May 19, 2015. Blane has been going to Tesh Vocational Center, a local nonprofit that helps people with disabilities with employment and independent living for over 25 years.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane Gilbreath pauses to listen to instruction while working at Tesh Vocational Center in Coeur d’Alene on June 16, 2015.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane Gilbreath is led through Tesh Vocational Center by his friend Bob McRae on June 16, 2015.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane Gilbreath's lunch is packed and ready on June 17, 2015. Blane spends Monday through Friday at Tesh Vocational Center. His father Sonny packs his lunch for him every morning.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane Gilbreath assembles tree plugs at Tesh Vocational Center on June 16, 2015. He's been working and taking classes at Tesh for 26 years.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane Gilbreath takes a moment to let a headache pass while working at Tesh Vocational Center on June 16, 2015. Frequent headaches still occur due to a car accident in 1986.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane and Sonny Gilbreath hold hands during prayer before dinner with friends at their home in Post Falls on July 1, 2015. "The first word he said after the accident was stop; the second word was Jesus," said Sonny.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Blane Gilbreath sips his coffee while watching a religious television show at his home on July 1, 2015. He and his father Sonny host a weekly Bible study at their home.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
"He's worse than Elaine on 'Seinfeld,'" said Sonny Gilbreath, left, as his son Blane Gilbreath dances to a Linda Ronstadt song in a shop on their property in Post Falls on July 20, 2015.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Sonny Gilbreath, right, jokes around with his son Blane in a shop on their propery in Post Falls on July 20, 2015.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review