The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Hi Everyone I'm new here

Brazer's picture
Brazer

Hi Everyone I'm new here

Hi everyone. I just joined your forum.

I had a hemorrhagic stroke in March 12, 2017, and it left me with a left side numb and useless. By useless, I can't make my left hand hold anything, opening and closing isn't working. My left side including my left leg doesn't work right either. Now I can stand and shuffle with a walker, and use right hand to do all my cooking, baking cleaning up the mess I make, but I am still working on my adaptability skills to make do one handed. I live alone with my little dog and was doing blacksmithing and fiddle playing before the stroke. A 71, at least I eat good. Here's a picture of my bread I made today in a cast iron skillet in oven. I don't have a dutch oven and couldn't put it in and out of oven with one hand. How does my bread look?

Can't seem to figure how to add and post more than one picture at a time.

embth's picture
embth

Congratulations on your lovely loaf of bread.  I bet it tasted wonderful.    Cast iron skillets are useful tools but they are heavy.  It is good that your one working hand is a nice strong one.  By best wishes to you for a full recovery from your stroke. 

Happy Holidays to you and your little dog (who I'm sure is a good baking assistant)   Embth

clazar123's picture
clazar123

Keep moving and adapting! Your blacksmithing made for good muscles and the fiddle playing was good for great hand dexterity so keep working with what you have to stay strong. I had a friend that used his deadweight hand to push up against so he could pick things up easier. There are so many different ways to make bread and so many tools available so post questions-this site has worldwide reach and there are answers out there.

Your loaf looks excellent. How did it taste?

To post multiple pictures, you have to do them one at a time. So after you get 1 picture posted, move your cursor to the next line or type more lines and then go through the same process to post the next picture.

Welcome!

kendalm's picture
kendalm

Hi brazer thats fantastic and done with one hand - totally amazed ! How ling have you been baking ? I bake to keep myself sane its amazing how fulfilling spending a few hours with flour etc makes everything so much more enjoyable - do you have anyone youbcan share your loaves with ? Btw its sort of goes with the territory most members want to see the cut open loaf too so once you figure out pics dont forget to take a few snaps of the slices ! 

Brazer's picture
Brazer

Brazer's picture
Brazer

Brazer's picture
Brazer

Brazer's picture
Brazer

Can someone please tell me how to post picture

 

Brazer's picture
Brazer

I just removed my original picture of the whole loaf and uploaded the picture of inside of bread with a slice instead.

I could get the picture on preview but not on post. Anyway I figured a way to get you the picture to comment on the inside. Too bad you can't edit when you get the message wrong and have to keep redoing. Thanks for your patience.

 

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

Welcome. 

Might fine loaf. Admire you for producing a lovely loaf of bread even with you disability. May your make a full recovery. 

Looking forward to seeing many more bakes. 

- Abe

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)
Brazer's picture
Brazer

Here's the pics

clazar123's picture
clazar123

The crumb looks well fermented and raised.

I like the shape of a skillet bread for eating out of hand and also sandwiches.

Janna3921's picture
Janna3921

Looks really nice, mine definitely didn't come out as nice as that.

My sister had a stroke several years ago, it affected one side of her, with physical therapy, working with it she was able to get most of it back.  She was a bit younger when it happened, in her mid 40 (caused by a spider bite that created a blood clot that broke lose).   Still, with some training you it might be possible to find ways to adapt.  Ask a physical therapist what you could do that would help.

Wishing you well and good luck in your bread making.

Brazer's picture
Brazer

I had a TIA stroke 10 yrs ago and with no insurance did my own therapy 2 days later when I got home. I fully recovered in a few day. This was a big one hemorrhagic brain bleed that caused a lot of brain damage. I was in hospital 2 months with 5 days a week, twice a day therapy, both OT and PT. Then when I returned home I had in home therapy both the PT and OT. My therapists said I new what to do and they could no longer help. Medicare runs for 8 wks for home care. While I had them here I cooked, baked cakes and PT therapist watched me install handicap bars, change my shower to personal shower. Everthing I do helps me by myself. Stretching walking with walker outside go shopping for groceries,haul my own garbage 80ft outside one way to the dumpster, showed them how I do laundry. I have made cutting board that I put stainless screws through to hold onions and other foods so I don't cut my hand off. I bought grade 5 butcher gloves that are cut proof. Made a way to hold mixing bowl by cutting out the bottom of a large plastic mixing bowl, turning over in kitchen sink, then my regular bowl is a tight fit and I can mix by hand with no problem. I use rubber non skid rubber pieces from shelf liners to keep things like plates from sliding around when I use them. Special rubber suction pads that stick bowls and plates to the counter or table.  I even showed the therapists my invention for zero gravity by having a rubber sling on my dead arm slung from a bent rod higher than my arm. When my hand was in the sling it didn't fly away from me at the table. The rubber sling made it like it wasn't as heavy to use. I even hooked a belt over my shoulder that was tied to the back of chair in kitchen. With it hooked to my bad wrist I adjusted to be near the plate when I leaned backwards. When I leaned forward, my arm would come up to my face. I appreciate everone's help with my stroke, I found that if there's a will there's a way.  I am a retired master plumber with over 45 years experience, certified welder almost that long, medical gases licensed installer, blacksmith artistic metal worker. Fiddle player over 60yrs. I feel that I will adapt and improvise with the will to survive another 25 years. That my friend is how I made it alone for so many years.

Matt H's picture
Matt H

welcome to the community, and wishing you the best. My mum had a stroke 20 years ago now, and she's made the best of it. She doesn't bake much anymore, but still cooks quite a bit.