Being married to a Hollywood star can be difficult, but some couples make it work.
Ann Serrano gave everything for her famous husband — even one of her organs — but ended up being betrayed.
Ann Serrano might not be a name you immediately recognize, but she deserves to be known for more than just being “the wife of a celebrity.” Ann has built a career as both an actress and a producer. Some people may know her from *Arrested Development*, and she even appeared in an episode of *Curb Your Enthusiasm*.
Beyond her career, Ann is a devoted mom to a daughter she shares with a famous and groundbreaking actor. The couple met during a casting for a movie, which was Ann’s first casting job. They connected and got married in September 1993. Three years later, they welcomed a beautiful daughter, Mayan.
For a long time, their high-profile marriage seemed strong, but everything changed in the early 2000s when her famous husband got devastating news.
Doctors told him that his kidneys were failing because of a genetic condition, and he needed a transplant to survive. The surgery was urgent, but he delayed it for a year because he feared the media would find out. He didn’t want their 9-year-old daughter to read about his illness in the tabloids.
Even though he was a public figure, he managed to keep the illness a secret for some time. But soon, it became clear that he needed help. That’s when Ann offered something incredible — her own kidney.
For Ann, the choice was simple, as she said in an interview.
“It’s amazing to help another human being like this. You’re giving the gift of life,” she said.
The surgery was a success, and the famous actor was lucky that his body accepted the new organ. On top of that, he lost 45 pounds as his health got better. Thanks to Ann’s generosity, they looked forward to many more happy years together. But things didn’t turn out that way.
So, who was this man? None other than George Lopez, best known for starring in *The George Lopez Show*. Today, he is one of the most loved comedians, and in 2005, *Time* magazine named him one of “The Top 25 Hispanics in America.”
Abandoned by his parents
Born in 1961 in Los Angeles to a Mexican migrant worker, George Lopez had a tough start in life. His father left him when he was just two months old, and his mother left when he was 10. George was raised by his grandmother after that.
As a shy and introverted child, George spent much of his time daydreaming. No one could have guessed he would become a Hollywood star, but George turned his tough upbringing into comedy, using his pain to create jokes that connected with people everywhere.
“I started to find my comedic voice in the early ’90s, and it revolved around my grandmother as a sort of muse,” George once shared.
“She was really something. No car could go from zero to 60 as fast as my grandmother could go from calm to upset.”
**Discovered by Sandra Bullock**
It wasn’t long before Sandra Bullock noticed George, frustrated by the lack of Hispanic representation on TV.
ABC agreed, and in 2002, George became one of the few Latinos to star in a sitcom. The show was a huge success, with nearly 10 million viewers watching during its first season. George was the co-creator, writer, producer, and star.
Despite the success of *The George Lopez Show*, it was canceled in 2007, and George wasn’t pleased. He famously told the *Los Angeles Times*, “TV just became really, really white again.”
Professionally, it was a big setback, but at that time, George had just survived a life-threatening health issue.
**Secret surgery**
On April 19, 2005, George was taken into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center under the fake name “Tom Ace,” unsure if he would survive the surgery.
Thanks to Ann’s selfless act, he made it through.
Both George and Ann had surgery in side-by-side rooms, and the next day, their daughter visited them in the hospital. Ann said she didn’t feel any different with just one kidney.
Unfortunately, it all came crashing down, and this time, it was very public.
Ann discovered the heartbreaking truth by reading it in a tabloid. In that moment, she realized the man she had loved and supported was living a double life.
“It was a pretty devastating way to find out,” Ann shared on *TheHourGlass Podcast* in 2024.
This was something Ann couldn’t tolerate, and she made the painful choice to file for divorce. Unsurprisingly, their daughter Mayan stood by her mother’s side, offering support through the heartache.
Years later, Mayan shared more about her parents’ relationship on TikTok, even asking them directly why they divorced. Ann replied, “Your dad didn’t realize you have to stop dating other people when you get married.”
A year later, Mayan, who is also pursuing an acting career, posted another video with the caption, “He cheated. She divorced him. We kept almost everything.”
**Went into therapy**
George has been more reserved about the details but expressed regret for the pain he caused, especially to his daughter. The two didn’t speak for years.
Eventually, George went to therapy with her to work through their issues, admitting it was “awkward” but necessary.
“You have to be responsible for the trauma that you’ve caused,” George said. “For the first time in my life I said, ‘Yeah, I’m responsible for this, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life repairing it.’”
“To be a father is a very special thing,” George told *ET*. He continued, “To be estranged from your child is the worst thing ever, and for the first time in my life, I owned up to my mistakes. I’m lucky Mayan took me back into her life, and a little bit of the show is about that.”
Father and daughter eventually healed their relationship, and it led to something truly special. Not only did they reconcile, but they also turned their struggles into art. Now, they co-star in the NBC comedy *Lopez vs. Lopez*, a show loosely based on their journey of fixing a complicated relationship.
Remarkably, despite everything, Ann and George maintain a good relationship. In fact, years later, Mayan asked them if they still loved each other, and both admitted they did. Ann even called George her “husband and friend,” while George simply said, “I love Ann.”
If you see these painful red bumps, you may have dyshidrotic eczema
Dyshidrotic eczema is a common skin problem that many experience in the spring. This is an incurable disorder, however it is controllable and controlled. Little, itch-causing blisters are the symptoms.
A collection of illnesses collectively referred to as dermatitis that result in skin irritation are called eczema. According to statistics, there are only 35 million cases of eczema in the United States. Children under the age of five are involved in about 70% of these incidents.
The skin becomes red, itchy, and swollen during a flare-up, along with fluid-filled pimples that may ooze and crust. Allergy reactions are the most frequent cause of eczema, but genetics can also play a role. Eczema cannot be spread.
Dyshidrotic eczema is one of the most prevalent types, as was previously mentioned.
Pompholyx, also known as dyshidrotic eczema, is a recurrent, chronic skin ailment that itches and frequently manifests symmetrically on the palms, fingers, and soles. It is characterized by 1-2 mm deep-seated, tiny vesicles that dissolve with scaling after a few weeks.
This condition is also known as pompholyx, acute and recurrent vesicular hand dermatitis, acute palmoplantar eczema, vesicular endogenous eczema, cheiropompholyx (when affecting the hands), podopompholyx or pedopompholyx (when affecting the feet), and cheiropodopompholyx. There is some disagreement regarding the precise terminology and definitions.
Naturally, not all skin inflammations are associated with this particular form of eczema, so get a correct diagnosis before beginning any treatment.
The following are a few of the most typical signs of dyshidrotic eczema:
Blisters that have set deeply on the hands and feet, especially on the fingers, toes, palms, and soles
Itching Sensitivity
Smearing
Scaly, broken skin Anguish
Dyshidrotic eczema is more common in people who have hay fever, atopic eczema, or contact dermatitis. Unfortunately, it tends to become infected easily, which slows down the healing process.
While there’s no magic bullet to stop flare-ups, you can increase your skin’s ability to withstand inflammation with a good skincare regimen.
Creams are the most common treatment for dyshidrotic eczema; these may include corticosteroid ointments or creams, as well as prescription injections or pills.
Additional therapies consist of:
huge blisters being drained by UV light treatments
antihistamines
several anti-itch creams and ointments that inhibit the immune system, like Protopic and Elidel
In addition to these traditional approaches, natural remedies exist for the illness’s treatment and alleviation. Keeping skin clean and hydrated is often one of the best ways to deal with eczema. Your unique symptoms will determine the kind of therapy you receive and how often you receive it, but these natural, at-home methods provide you the confidence to utilize skin care products on your skin.
Chilled Compresses
Soak the afflicted region and use cold compresses for 15 minutes to minimize skin inflammation. For optimal results, repeat this procedure two to four times over the day and then moisturize the affected region.
Vera Aloe
Aloe vera, well known for its capacity to calm inflamed skin and quicken the healing process, can aid in lessening eczema symptoms. Break off a portion of the plant and apply the thick gel straight to your irritated skin for optimal effects. As an alternative, you can get a bottle of organic aloe vera lotion from your neighborhood drugstore.
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