My heart goes out to him. We just fixed a terrible virus crash, and could have used his services!

Our Oreo is also having a major Vet $$ crisis... thousands! and being taken advantage of by specialists too. I found a more humane vet to handle Oreo's rare cancer and he is doing palliative therapy to make her last months more comfortable.
We are in day 5 of steroid management, instead of invasive surgeries, and she is back to her old self. (she is 13)
The prognosis with $5000 surgery is only 3-4 months longer than with steroids to shrink the tumors. The other vet would not give this option, and I found a compassionate vet to do it just as a fluke. We know her time is short, but I'd rather she enjoy being a cat than suffering on a cushion from chronic pain.

I posted this link this weekend about a family who found an abandoned paralyzed kitten...they are using the net to bring their problem to other pet owners, and your son may find doing something similar helpful too.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread159203.html

My heart goes out to your son. We have suffered much anxiety and pain, over this and I can only imagine what your son is going thru!