It has been a while since we have written anything on our blog, and for that, we apologize. The past recent years have been challenging, to say the least. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected us all. We had to put a hold on many of our projects and plans as we adjusted to the new normal.
In 2020, we were already geared toward launching our natural soap products. We were also preparing already our accreditation with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) for our site to be a training center for regenerative agriculture topics. And we were about to start setting up our market garden. But all these were put on hold due to the pandemic.
But amidst all the chaos the pandemic brought, something else happened. In February 2021, my dear Cye was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer. It was shocking and devastating, but we knew we had to fight this disease together. Cye had to undergo a unilateral radical mastectomy, and for the next year and a half, she underwent 8-cycle chemotherapy and 18-cycle target therapy with the support of families, friends, and colleagues. And now, she is undergoing hormone therapy until the next four years. Her doctors are optimistic about her full recovery.
In November 2021, I had an accident and fractured my right arm. My injury immobilized me for months, limiting what I could do on the farm. As if it was not enough, my sister Catherine died in December 2021 due to complications with her lingering ailments.
But all these emotional, physical, and mental stress have changed Cye and me. It has reminded us of the fragility of life and the importance of living it to the fullest. It has strengthened our resolve to impact the world positively, one small step at a time.
We are thrilled to announce that The Pitak Project is back and stronger than ever. We have big plans for our permaculture farm, including updating and refurbishing our blog site. We want to continue advocating for sustainable and regenerative living and environmental stewardship. We believe that we can make a difference, even in the face of adversity. And we hope that our story, our comeback story, can inspire others to do the same. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing this journey with you.
