Foundation aims to help patients with breast cancer
EDITOR’S NOTE: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Texarkana Gazette is featuring two survivors in today’s print and online editions as well as several survivor stories featured in this month’s HER Magazine, available in print and online.
Breast cancer survivor Katina Levingston has been described by those who know her as “One Tough Cookie.”
“That name stuck with me and I made that my Race for the Cure team name. I do feel I am a very ‘tough cookie,’” she said.
Levingston is also using a variation of the name for her new 501 c3 foundation, the “Tough Kookie Foundation.”
The foundation has been established to support breast cancer patients in Texarkana and the surrounding counties with a variety of support, ranging from financial to emotional.
“I wanted to do more than mammograms. I want the person going through it to feel good and loved. I want to give them what they need, whether it be a wig, or extensions, or a makeover or a dinner for two,” Levingston said.
“People going through cancer don’t always tell someone when they are hurting. You have to show them you love them,” she said.
COVID-19 caused the cancellation of the annual Komen Race for the Cure event usually held in October.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation has also restructured and closed its local and state offices.
Levingston hopes the Tough Kookie Foundation can sponsor a race in October 2021. She would also like to see a banquet to raise money for the foundation along with other events.
The foundation has already received financial support from local donors and is doing some activities this October.
Hobby Lobby recently provided a place for breast cancer patients and survivors to work on their art projects and Walmart donated some of the supplies.
Levingston hopes to display some of the paintings in the arts park beside the Regional Art Center downtown.
The paintings will also be shown on the Tough Kookie Facebook page.
“We want everyone to stay tuned and see what we will be doing,” Levingston said.
Levingston’s journey with breast cancer started in January 2016. During a scheduled annual exam, she mentioned to the nurse she had noticed a lump in her left breast. When the doctor found the lump during the exam, he immediately scheduled a mammogram and biopsy.
After five days of anxious waiting, she was called to visit her doctor and receive the results. She was diagnosed with Stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. Levingston underwent a lumpectomy six days after that visit.
Her lymph nodes were clear but the cancer was aggressive, despite being Stage 1.
She traveled to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston and started a treatment plan of chemo and radiation. She had to take chemo for a year Levingston lost her hair and struggled with, pain, fatigue and weakness during her treatments.
“My faith and strength in
God is what kept me going strong each day. My husband and daughters are the reason I fought,” she said.
Levingston said she was fortunate during her own illness that her husband Joe was able to take off work and accompany her to appointments. She said not everyone has that luxury and no one should be alone during such a frightening time.
Levingston is now on the other side of cancer but has not forgotten that struggle.
Now, this One Tough Kookie is hoping the Tough Kookie Foundation can help others going through something similar.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and needs any type of assistance should visit the Tough Kookie Foundation Facebook Page and send a message. They will then receive a form where they can share what they need with the Foundation.
“We want to tap into all sides of breast cancer and what people need, whether it’s time with counselors or a psychologist, rides to treatments or just someone to talk to,” Levingston said.