Please help Helena get her leg splints

Helena was an owner surrender to Orange County Animal Care Center on December 27, 2012. She is a two year old shihtzu and so sweet. When Helena was surrendered, she could not walk on her hind legs. Her pull fee was sponsored by the Life Program and she was "rescue only." Helena was pulled by St. Martin's Animal Rescue, a rescue geared for super seniors and dogs with medical or behavioral issues. When Helena arrived, she was seen by a local veterinarian who felt that she had Leggs Perth Disease. A second opinion was sought by another vet that thought she had a slipped patella in her left hind leg. The second veterinarian sent Helena's radiographs to the OSU Teaching Veterinarian Hospital for review. Helena was seen by the orthopedic specialists and was sedated for more thorough radiographs. These radiographs clearly showed significant joint and cartilage damage in all of her digits, her knees, her elbows and up into her hip joints. A fluid draw of her joints confirmed a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Helena's comfort level is maintained with pain medication and a medication to halt the progress of the RA. Helena also has a quad cart to help her move around and her legs were cast for impressions for custom made leg splints for her front legs where her digits are completely destroyed. In the interim of all of these specialist appointments, Helena suffered a devastating blow, when an old lesion in her left eye re-opened from undiagnosed KCS (dry eye) and she had to have surgery to remove the eye completely as the medication management was not helping and her pain was excruciating. Helena's veterinarian bills thus far have totaled over $3500.00 and the leg splints from Orthopets will be $1225.50 plus $20.00 standard shipping. Orthopets will not begin the construction of her leg splints until they are paid for. I am asking for help in raising funds for her splints. St. Martin's is a very small rescue in Oregon. Website: www.stmartinsanimalrescue.org, EIN: 46-1438330