One Tough Kookie

Breast cancer survivor Katina Levingston founded The Tough Kookie Foundation to support breast and childhood cancer survivors

by LINDSEY MCMILLAN

Katina receives chemo #7 at CHRISTUS St. Michael’s W. Temple Webber Cancer Center.

Katina Levingston is one tough “kookie.”  That fact is illustrated in her fight to overcome breast cancer and having formed a foundation to help others.  The Tough Kookie Foundation is a nonprofit organization aimed to support breast and childhood cancer survivors.  As their mission states, “Together We Can bring about more community awareness and continue to assist cancer patients in Texarkana and the surrounding areas in the fight against cancer.”  Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women of which 1 in 8 will develop the invasive variety.  There are over 3 million survivors, and the fight continues.  Katina is helping lead this with 27 committee members who are inviting volunteers and sponsors for a race they are hosting this October.  

Thanks to Texas Chi Omega, Chloe (center) made new friends with Zoe Goudarzi and Jordan Mendez.

The first annual Tough Kookie Breast Cancer Race will be held on the Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus on Saturday, October 16.  Funds raised will be used for providing local mammograms, resources, and varying levels of support for those fighting breast and childhood cancer.  Katina wants to help women anyway that she can, and that means getting items and services to those who need it.  The Tough Kookie Foundation has already assisted 47 local women with bra and wig donations totaling $5,000.  In addition, Katina hopes to use funds to help women with simple things such as gift certificates for massages, facials, and care packages.  Katina says, “I want to give back to people who are less fortunate. I hope to help men and women to feel better going through cancer.”  She knows this need all too well, since she fought breast cancer herself.

Katina with her daughters, Ashanti and Nakina, on May 8, the day before her hair fell out, at Louisiana Downs.

Born and raised in Shreveport, Katina and her family moved to Texarkana when she was in the eleventh grade.  A graduate of Arkansas High School, she attended Texarkana College and earned her certification in medical coding and billing.  She always dreamed of becoming a nurse but found her calling in working for various medical offices.  She worked for Dr. Naples for two years as his billing coordinator, calling it one of the best jobs she ever had.  She also worked at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System for two years before beginning her own company, Levingston Medical Billing, Inc. She has been busy with this career for 26 years and currently works with 17 various medical providers across four specialties.  

Katina has family living in Houston and has raised two daughters with her husband, Joe, who has been with the U.S. Postal Service for 37 years. Their oldest daughter, Nakina (known as NaNa), is a graduate of Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama, and is beginning her master’s degree in Special Education at Alabama A&M University.  Younger daughter, Ashanti, just completed her freshman year at the University of Central Arkansas. Katina also has two stepsons, Joe Levingston III and Jaron Levingston.

Linda Hailey, Katina, and Gail Cobb during a Pleasant Grove Lady Hawks basketball tournament in December 2016.  Katina received her fourth chemotherapy the day before this photo was taken.

Katina discovered a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2016.  She always got regular mammograms and was otherwise healthy.  Her gynecologist arranged for a biopsy to be done and was told her cancer was Stage 1.  A lumpectomy was performed, and after exploring her treatment options, Katina decided to go to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for chemotherapy and radiation. She recalls receiving her cancer diagnosis on her daughter NaNa’s birthday (January 13), and she began her chemotherapy on her wedding anniversary (March 24).  Her husband took her every week for treatments which spanned a period of 16 months.  They would travel there each Friday, and she would be back at work on Monday. Throughout her entire treatment, she only missed one day of work.  

After chemotherapy, Katina began radiation therapy which was daily for six weeks. She credits Drs. Garber and Murry at MD Anderson with their stellar care and the overwhelming support she received both here at home and in Houston.  She met and keeps in touch with two other women who were undergoing treatment alongside her.  A private person, Katina was inundated with friends offering prayers, hugs, and other support.  She applauds those women she calls her “Old Lady Gang,” comprised of close friends Gail Cobb and Linda Hailey saying they were her greatest prayer warriors.  Katina recalls beginning to lose her hair on Mother’s Day, and that was the most devastating thing about her illness.  She says she was fortunate to have milder chemotherapy side effects, experiencing some nausea, lethargy, and neuropathy in her extremities.  This didn’t keep her down though, as she continued to raise her daughters and maintain her business. She praises her husband and children who she calls the “backbone of her life.”  Katina was declared to be cancer free at the end of 2017 and gets a checkup every three months.

Joe and Katina enjoying beach time in Florida this past April.

Katina’s experience overall undoubtedly changed her perspective on many things so she decided to form a foundation to help strengthen others’ faith and determination with love, hugs, and positivity. She explains, “After receiving my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, I decided to document my journey by taking as many pictures as I could of everything that happened along the way.  While at MD Anderson, I saw many people struggling, both emotionally and physically. The joy of trying to help others by putting smiles on their faces blessed me immensely.”  Katina had been inspired by the Susan G. Komen Foundation and their many years of work here in the community. Katina had been involved with the Race by volunteering and fund-raising. Her team was comprised of family and friends and often was recognized as one of the top teams to raise money.  Beginning the Tough Kookie Foundation and being a new breast cancer survivor, she had the energy and drive to try to replicate the Komen Race since the Texarkana affiliate recently departed.  She wanted to provide a race that not only raised funds for breast cancer but childhood cancers as well.  COVID restrictions naturally set back their efforts for a year but now the committee is determined to spread the word and advertise the race and other events in the months ahead.  

Katina has already been an active part of the Texarkana community for years, as a member of the Junior League of Texarkana where she worked on the Nominating & Placement Committee and was the 2019 recipient of the Marguerite Whitmarsh Holman award.  She also helped form Christians in Action (CIA) at her church, St. Paul Missionary Baptist. This was begun in 2012 and assists teenagers to serve in various areas of the community.  Katina strives to be pro-active in her service to others and inspires others to do the same.  She credits her faith with all of the good that has come out of her experience and wants to share that with others. “God brought me to cancer and definitely brought me through cancer,” she shares.  “My belief and trust in God, along with having a positive attitude was the key in my fight against cancer.  I knew that He would use my journey as part of a bigger plan for my life.”  

Team Katina attended the 2017 Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure® with her Tough Kookie team.

The Tough Kookie Foundation has a Facebook page and website for those interested in volunteering for the race.  There are also varying levels of sponsorship available.  The committee has named October 10 to be Pink Out Sunday, and more information will be distributed via social media and radio across the community. The race itself is a 5K run/walk where participants have the choice of being timed or not.  Pets are welcome at the race, and teams are currently being formed.  Other events surrounding the race are being planned, and Katina encourages people across the ArkLaTex to get involved. Dr. Cheryl Saul-Sehy is serving as the race organizer and is very excited about what is being planned: “It is a pleasure to work with Katina.  She has boundless energy and an unwavering dedication to help the breast and childhood cancer patients in Bowie and Miller Counties.”  

The Tough Kookie Foundation already has an ongoing event in place called Walkers and Talkers.  This is an open group of people who meet each Saturday at Central Mall (at the JCPenney entrance) at 7 a.m. for about an hour of conversation and exercise. Katina is excited to see the growth for the race and other activities heighten in the months to come.  A dog show is also in the planning stages to be held at Spring Lake Park.  As if Katina isn’t busy enough, in her spare time she enjoys taking cruises and traveling to visit her kids.  Desperate to help those in need and fighting breast and childhood cancers, Katina is eager to enlist volunteers and sponsors across Texarkana and surrounding areas.  For more information, visit: www.toughkookie.org or email: toughkookietxk@gmail.com.