Doughnut shop owner returns after patrons offer support during her recovery from aneurysm

SEAL BEACH, Calif. — A California woman is once again greeting customers at her doughnut shop a year after being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm that almost took her life.

Stella Chhan and her husband, John, have operated Donut City in Seal Beach for nearly 30 years after arriving from Cambodia in 1979 as refugees, KCBS reported. Last year, Stella suffered a brain aneurysm and slipped into a coma, KCBS reported.

It was not known at the time if she would survive. John continued to open the shop every day while his wife recovered. Patrons wanted to show their support for the couple, so they took to social media, managing to sell out the store’s doughnut supply daily so John could spend more time with his wife. The couple’s story went viral, and people all over the country came to Donut City in a show of support.

Stella told CBS News that she is grateful for the customers’ support and that it helped in her recovery. She says she is physically stronger now and can hold a tray, so she wanted to return to work. “I need to move. I don’t want to stay home,” she told CBS.

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