There is always a good thing in every bad situation. 62-year-old donut shop owner John Chan knows this all too well. When Stella, John’s 63-year-old wife, was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, John was shaken. But thanks to the efforts of their good neighbors – husband and wife have something to smile about in the midst of dark days.
30 years after emigrating from Cambodia, John and Stella were selling delicious donuts in their Donut Town located in Seal Beach, California. Every day, husband and wife opened the pastry shop at 4:30 a.m. and closed at 2 p.m.
But these days, John finds himself closing the bakery at 7:30 in the morning. The reason will surely move your hearts to tears!
When Stella was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, husband and wife decided it was best for Stella to stay in rehab. However, this means fewer opportunities for John to spend time with his dear wife. Every day, John doesn’t spend time with Stella before her shop closes.
It didn’t take long for loyal customers to miss Stella’s vibrant presence. They did not expect Stella to suffer from a serious illness. After hearing the sad news, their loyal customers offered financial assistance to make ends meet.
“It’s heartbreaking to hear about his misfortune,” said Stephen O’Fallon, a regular customer for years. “She was always in the back making cupcakes.”
One client even offered to create a GoFundMe page for John and Stella. However, John declined the intended offer. According to the 62-year-old husband, they have enough money to cover Stella’s case, and what he can’t afford is time.
“He said he had enough money,” Dawn Caviola, a loyal customer of John and Stella, said in an interview. “He just wants to spend more time with his wife.”
With bread and butter dependent on the pastry, John has no choice but to run the shop and make the most of his limited time with his wife.
