What Happened to Buddy Valastro Hand? What Did He Do to His Hand?
by Sakthi | Updated May 24, 2023
What Happened to Buddy Valastro Hand?
Buddy Valastro, a renowned American baker with Italian heritage, has made a name for himself as a reality television personality. He is not only the proud owner of Carlo's Bakery but also serves as the face of Buddy V's Ristorante. However, his claim to fame came with the launch of the immensely popular reality TV series Cake Boss, which first aired in April 2009.
Following his graduation from Nutley High School in 1994, Valastro pursued his culinary dreams at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After completing his studies at the institute, he returned to Carlo's Bakery and dedicated himself to working there full-time.
The breakthrough in Valastro's career arrived in 2009 when he and his family became the stars of the reality television series Cake Boss. The show offers viewers a captivating glimpse into Valastro's world as he and his team craft astonishingly intricate cakes for special occasions. The tremendous success of Cake Boss propelled Buddy Valastro into the spotlight, transforming him into a household name.
Since the show's triumphant debut, Valastro has made appearances on various other television programs, including Next Great Baker, Kitchen Boss, Buddy's Bakery Rescue, Bake You Rich, Bakery Boss, Buddy vs. Duff, and Buddy vs. Christmas. Furthermore, he has showcased his culinary expertise through the publication of several cookbooks, notably Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss and Buddy's Bakery: Recipes from the Cake Boss Family.
Valastro's achievements extend beyond his professional endeavors. Alongside his remarkable success, he remains a devoted husband and father. He shares his life with Lisa Valastro, his beloved wife, and together they have been blessed with four children: Bartolo Buddy Valastro III, Sofia Valastro, Marco Valastro, and Carlo Valastro. Let us see what happened to him in detail.
What did Buddy Valastro do to his Hand?
On September 13, 2020, while enjoying a bowling session with his family at his residence in Hoboken, New Jersey, an unfortunate mishap occurred. Valastro attempted to fix a malfunctioning pinsetter during the game when his right hand got impaled by a metal rod typically used for raising and lowering the pins. The rod pierced through his hand between the middle and ring fingers, extending up to his wrist.
Following the accident, Valastro was promptly transported to the hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries to address the extensive damage. In total, he endured five surgical procedures and remained hospitalized for several days.
The aftermath of the surgeries marked the beginning of a challenging and protracted recovery process for Valastro. He had to relearn how to utilize his hand and contend with significant pain and discomfort. Despite the daunting obstacles, Valastro displayed unwavering determination to achieve full recuperation. Through arduous efforts with his therapists, he gradually regained a significant degree of functionality in his hand.
By February 2021, Valastro had made a triumphant return to his work at Carlo's Bakery, albeit still wearing a cast on his hand. His commitment to resuming his professional duties remained resolute. Valastro's journey to recovery was marked by its length and arduousness, yet he never succumbed to defeat. His resilience serves as an inspiration to anyone who has confronted challenges, embodying the indomitable strength of the human spirit.
In an interview with People magazine, Valastro expressed profound gratitude for being alive and admitted to still grappling with disbelief regarding the incident. He affirmed his unwavering determination to resume work and emphasized that he would not allow this setback to hinder his progress.
What Happened to Buddy Valastro?
Buddy Valastro, the beloved star of Cake Boss, recently shared details about a distressing incident that led to his hospitalization. In September 2020, while enjoying precious moments with his family at their residence in New Jersey, Valastro encountered a "horrific" bowling accident that resulted in him undergoing multiple surgeries on his hand.
According to Valastro's spokesperson, who spoke with PEOPLE magazine, the accident occurred at their home's private bowling alley while they were engaging in quality family time. What should have been a routine fix for a malfunctioning bowling pinsetter turned into a dreadful mishap.
Detailing the sequence of events, the representative explained, "While attempting to dislodge the bowling pin from the cage mechanism, Buddy's right hand became trapped and compressed within the apparatus." Tragically, he found himself unable to free his hand as a 1-1/2-inch metal rod began to puncture his hand repeatedly, wedged between his ring finger and middle finger. Coming to Valastro's aid, his sons Buddy Jr. and Marco swiftly resorted to using a reciprocating saw to cut through the metal rod, ultimately freeing their father from the machine's grip.
Buddy Valastro Accident
Buddy Valastro, in a heartfelt series of Instagram stories, opened up about the harrowing accident that left him in tears and shared how his teenage son played a heroic role in saving him after a metal rod pierced his hand. With genuine emotion, Buddy addressed his followers, disclosing, "I recently had a truly terrible accident at my home, involving my hand. I'm currently receiving top-notch care at HSS in the city."
Expressing gratitude, he extended his appreciation to his fans, stating, "I want to take a moment to thank all of you for the overwhelming love and support. Together, we will overcome this challenge." Concluding the clips, Buddy blew a kiss to the camera and expressed his profound affection for his fans, emphasizing that he "loves" each and every one of them.
Buddy Valastro Injury
In an interview with Access Hollywood in April 2023, Buddy Valastro shared an encouraging update on his condition, revealing that he is nearing full recovery and has only one more surgery left. During the conversation with Senior Digital Producer Stephanie Swaim, Buddy expressed his progress, saying, "Honestly, I'm doing pretty well. I may not become a hand model, but I have regained my strength and most of my capabilities. I would say I'm at about 95%. I just need one more surgery to straighten out this finger a bit. Looking back at how it was and where I am now, I'm truly grateful. It was a crazy journey."
This update arrives nearly one year after his fifth surgery, which he described as a "game changer." Buddy Valastro, now 45, has made remarkable strides in his recovery, nearly two years after experiencing a devastating hand injury in a frightful accident at his home bowling alley.
The incident occurred on September 20, 2020, while Buddy was enjoying quality time with his family at their New Jersey residence. The pinsetter in the bowling alley malfunctioned, and as Buddy attempted to resolve the issue, his right hand became trapped in the machinery.
Consequently, a metal rod descended and struck his hand three times, piercing the upper middle section. Initially, Buddy had doubts about his ability to bake again in the aftermath of the injury.
Buddy Valastro Weight Loss
Buddy Valastro's bowling alley injury in 2020 had a significant impact not only on his hand but also on his weight. The renowned Cake Boss star, now 46, candidly spoke with PEOPLE magazine about his remarkable weight loss journey, shedding nearly 40 lbs. over nine months. Valastro shared the lifestyle changes he implemented to achieve his slimmer physique.
Following five surgeries to repair his injured right hand, which had been impaled by a metal rod while fixing a pinsetter malfunction in his bowling alley, Valastro found himself succumbing to overeating and feeling sluggish, exacerbated by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valastro revealed, "After COVID, I was just home—doom and gloom—and eating. I mean... COVID was just miserable in that way." In March 2022, a realization struck him, prompting a need for change in his daily routine. He reflected, "I woke up one day and thought, 'This is almost the heaviest I've ever been.'"
By adopting intermittent fasting and portion control practices, the owner of Carlo's Bakery successfully shed 35 to 40 pounds. "It took me nine months to lose weight, and I've been able to maintain it because I lost it gradually. It wasn't a crash diet or anything like that," he explained. "I simply tried to be more disciplined during the week."
Valastro discovered the importance of knowing when to refuse food, a practice he was not accustomed to from his upbringing in a traditional Italian household. "Growing up in an old-fashioned Italian house, you didn't eat until you were full; you ate until you couldn't move. And you were gorged," he shared. "That's how I used to eat all the time. But once I started shrinking my stomach and stopping when it's appropriate, I felt better."
Despite his involvement in various food-related businesses, shows, and restaurants, Valastro credits his four children as the reason for his continued activity. "I have to do tastings and such, but I've always been active. I'm always on my feet. I'm constantly bustling around the factory. I'm still up at 6 a.m., working on the floor," he affirmed. "So I'm not an inactive guy."
Instead of indulging in late-night snacking, like devouring half a bag of potato chips at 10 p.m., Valastro now aims to conclude his eating for the day by 6 p.m. Additionally, when his wife, Lisa, prepares dinner, he consciously limits himself to "one or two" large spoonfuls of pasta, as opposed to "four big scoops."
However, Valastro believes that a crucial factor in his journey lies in his significant daily water intake. "I try to consume seven or eight bottles of water per day. You're constantly using the restroom! But it's also beneficial for your skin," he noted. He added, "If you drink plenty of water, you can't eat as much. So it's essentially about altering your habits and making it a priority."
What Happened to Buddy Valastro Hand: FAQs
Buddy Valastro's hand injury occurred when he was trying to fix a malfunctioning pinsetter in his home bowling alley.
Buddy Valastro had a total of five surgeries to repair the damage caused by the metal rod impaling his hand.
Following his hand injury and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Buddy Valastro found himself overeating and feeling sluggish, leading to weight gain.
Buddy Valastro implemented intermittent fasting, portion control, and discipline during the week to achieve his weight loss goals.
Buddy Valastro lost approximately 35 to 40 pounds through his efforts and dedication to a healthier lifestyle.