April/May 2021 Update:
From Dr. Katie:
Officially done with cancer treatments and surgeries!! So nice to have had a full 2 weeks with zero doctor appointments!!
I have to stay on anti-metastatic meds (1 for 2 years & a second for 10 years), which lower my white cell count, thus keeping me immuno-compromised & mask wearing. There are a couple of remaining side effects that are truly annoying--namely neuropathy, which can be quite painful. Otherwise, I'm feeling good and am back to work and riding horses.
Spring 2021 Update:
This cancer journey is coming to an end finally! March 2nd marked the last of 30 daily radiation treatments and aside from the expected (painful) skin reaction, my body held up well. The next hurdle is a minor surgery scheduled for March 18th and my doctors are telling me to expect a 2-3 week recovery time. They are advising me to continue to take it easy and not jump back into full time large animal work right away. Barring any complications or setbacks, my goal of being back to work full time by May 2021 is still attainable!
Until March 12th, I will be seeing patients, but my availability continues to be limited due to lingering chemo/radiation side effects, immuno-suppression, Covid restrictions, and innumerable doctor appointments. Therefore, it may be a few days before your patient can be seen.
From March 12 - April 4, NO APPOINTMENTS will be available.
Phone calls and texts will be returned in a timely manner after March 22nd.
Appointments will be offered on a limited basis after April 4th, depending on how well I have healed from the surgery.
My online pharmacy and medicine drop box are always accessible. Due to continuing Covid concerns and my continued compromised immune status, I am still requiring that masks be worn, and social distancing be observed during your appointments, both on the farm and in the office.
Depending on the nature of your large animal appointment request, I may be able to provide services in my limited capacity but am still unable to take any after-hours emergency calls.
For large animal services that are physically demanding, depending on where you are located, you can reach out to any of the following veterinarians who are kind enough to help cover for me:
Dr. Katy Card 716-450-4248
Dr. Tim Rice 716-789-3806
Dr. Richard Becht 716-483-2598
Springville Veterinary Services 716-592-0070
Dr. Jean Feldman 716-649-5333
Dr. Jeanne Best 716-629-8384
Trachtenberg Veterinary Associates in Orchard Park 585-749-9572
Cornell Equine 607-253-3100
Cornell Food Animal 607-253-3060
Equine Specialty Hospital 440-834-0811
Cleveland Equine Clinic 330-422-0040
Animal Hospital of Waterford 814-796-6115
Russell Vet Hospital 814-757-5440
Dr. Greg Hoyt (poultry) 716-664-4204
Dr. Mary Fales 716-665-2077
For Small animal services, you can reach out to any of the other local small animal veterinary hospitals.
Once I am recuperated from this last surgery and my doctors give me their blessing, I am looking forward to building back up to a full-time status during the months of April and May. I will have veterinary student assistants in May and June to help ease the burden on myself. Your patience and understanding during this time are appreciated and I look forward to providing full service veterinary care to your animals very soon!
Dr. Katie Ball
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December 2020
"...they came...and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." (names have been changed due to HIPAA rules)
Merry Christmas from my farm family to yours!
As 2020 ends, I want to thank each of you for your loyalty, encouragement, gifts, and support during my journey through breast cancer. It has been a roller coaster of a year, but I am beating cancer! I am 90% recovered from this summer’s major surgery and will finish my 20 weeks of chemotherapy on December 30th. The Year 2021 will kick off with 6 weeks of daily radiation and a minor surgery. I am still setting the goal of being back to work full time and done with cancer related things by May 2021. Hopefully, my remaining treatments will go smoothly, I can continue to evade Covid, and my doctors will agree to let me go back to work 100%.
I am still seeing patients, but my availability continues to be limited due to chemo/radiation side effects, immuno-suppression, and Covid restrictions. Therefore, it may be several days before your patient can be seen. Phone calls and texts will be returned as I am able to do so. My online pharmacy and medicine drop box are always accessible. Due to continuing Covid concerns and my compromised immune status, I am requiring that masks be worn, and social distancing be observed during your appointments, both on the farm and in the office.
Depending on the nature of your large animal appointment request, I may be able to provide services in my limited capacity but am still unable to take any after-hours emergency calls. For large animal services that are physically demanding, please scroll down to view the list of veterinarians who are kind enough to help cover for me. For small animal services, you can reach out to any of the other local small animal veterinary hospitals.
Your cards, notes, prayers, and gifts have been so encouraging and welcome. Thank you! Your patience and understanding during this time are appreciated and I look forward to providing full service veterinary care to your animals as soon as I am well enough to do so!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021!
Dr. Katie Ball
November's Update:
I am 2/3rds of the way through chemo! As most of you know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and had surgery in July. I started
chemotherapy in August and will continue to have weekly chemo treatments every Wednesday until Christmas. Then I get 2 weeks off before starting 6
weeks of daily radiation treatments in January, followed by one more minor surgery in March. I am setting the goal of being back to work full time and
done with cancer-related things by May 2021. We'll see how that goes. It may change based on the decisions of my doctors regarding my course of
treatment in this battle against breast cancer. In the meantime, I am seeing patients, but my availability is still limited
due to chemo side effects, immuno-suppression, and Covid restraints. Therefore, it may be several days before your patient can be seen. Phone
calls and texts will be returned as I am able to do so. My online pharmacy and medicine drop box are always accessible. Due to continuing Covid
concerns and my compromised immune status, I am requiring that masks be worn and social distancing be observed during your appointments.
Depending on the nature of your large animal appointment request, I may be able to provide services in my limited capacity, but am still unable to
take any after-hours emergency calls.
For large animal services that are physically demanding, depending on where you are located, you can reach out to any of the following veterinarians who are kind enough to help cover for me:
• Dr. Katy Card 716-450-4248
• Dr. Tim Rice 716-789-3806
• Dr. Richard Becht 716-483-2598
• Springville Veterinary Services 716-592-0070
• Dr. Jean Feldman 716-649-5333
• Dr. Jeanne Best 716-629-8384
• Trachtenberg Veterinary Associates in Orchard Park 585-749-9572
• Cornell Equine 607-253-3100 Cornell Food Animal 607-253-3060
• Equine Specialty Hospital 440-834-0811
• Cleveland Equine Clinic 330-422-0040
• Animal Hospital of Waterford 814-796-6115
• Russell Vet Hospital 814-757-5440
• Dr. Greg Hoyt (poultry) 716-664-4204
• Dr. Mary Fales 716-665-2077
For Small animal services, you can reach out to any of the other local small animal veterinary hospitals.
Updates regarding my availability will be posted here and on the practice Facebook page.
Your cards, notes, prayers, and gifts have been so encouraging and welcome. Thank you!
Your patience and understanding during this time is appreciated and I look forward to providing veterinary care to your animals as soon as I am well enough to do so!
Hopefully May 2021!
Sincerely, Dr. Katie