Former Box Tree chef Kieran Smith 'in stable condition' after second emergency heart surgery

Kieran Smith is in recovery after undergoing an emergency heart operation for the second time this month. 

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The former head chef at The Box Tree was rushed into hospital two weeks ago, according to a crowdfunding page created by his close friend John Hodgson, in what was originally though to be a heart attack. Complications in his recovery led him to be hospitalised a second time, almost costing him his life. 

In an interview with The Staff Canteen, the chef explained that he had been suffering from an acute aortic dissection - which in essence is a tear in the aorta, the blood vessel branching from the heart. He had open-heart surgery at Papworth specialist hospital in Cambridge two weeks ago before being sent home to recover last weekend. 

He was staying with his parents when he suddenly became very ill again earlier this week and was taken into A&E in York. 

His mother, Sandra Smith, explained that the chef had contracted an infection, and took a turn for the worst yesterday. 

"We were told he might not survive the journey," she said. 

"But here he is. He's got something strong in him." 

She said the second operation went well and the chef is in a stable condition, but he is in a lot of pain and it is unclear how long  he will need to be in recovery for. 

"They said it would take months after the first operation, it's going to be a long, long recovery," said Sandra.  

John Hodgson's  fund was launched on March the 30th, after the chef's first operation, aiming to raise £2,500 to support the chef's recovery, and at the time of writing this, is nearing the £1,900 mark. 

In his plea, he wrote: "The road back the full fitness is going to be a long and difficult one, and I’m hoping we can raise as much money as possible to help with living costs, medication, and to help Kieran Sandra and Malcolm in the months to come."

This morning, Donna McPherson, landlord at The Coaches and Horses in Tadcaster announced that she too would be holding a fundraising event to support the chef, which will take place at the pub on Saturday 27th: 

If you didn't spot it above, here is a link to his donation page.