Help NZ pianist afford cancer treatment

Katherine Austin is a renowned pianist from Aotearoa - and my beautiful mum. In late 2023 she was diagnosed with aggressive endometrial cancer (serous carconoma), and 9 months after her first sickening round of chemotherapy we have just discovered the cancer has metastasised to her lungs, badly.

We are now trying to raise funds for her to immediately begin immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus Lenvatinib - which is not funded by the government), so she has a chance to live longer than the expected six months. It is an expensive process, 80% of which can be paid for by insurance, however that still leaves $70,698 that we need to have in order to give her this treatment.

We, her whānau, are devastated by this turn of events and are desperate to not lose her. We have heard success stories come from those who have previously had immunotherapy, some for whom it's cured completely. She is already taking excellent care of her health by following expert advice on diet and supplements and doing lots of strenuous exercise, so we are hopeful. We want her to be able to watch her grandchildren grow up, to keep teaching and inspiring the next generation of Aotearoa pianists and delighting audiences around New Zealand (and, hopefully continuing internationally) for years to come.

If you've taken the time to read this, thank you, and please know that if you are able to donate to us, we really will be forever grateful to you. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, Elani.

📸 2025 Tom Hamill