When a colleague became family

What began as a professional connection became an unexpected source of support after a medical emergency brought two UCHealth colleagues together in a life-changing way.

Severe abdominal pain sent Leann Lopez — a newly hired director of coding and recent Colorado transplant — to the emergency department, where she expected a simple diagnosis and treatment plan.

The news she received next changed the course of her week.

What she thought would be a quick trip to UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital turned into urgent surgery and a six-day hospital stay.

Hundreds of miles from extended family, Leann had taken a rideshare to the hospital on her own after the pain became unbearable. Tests quickly revealed that surgery was necessary. As doctors prepared her for the procedure, Leann’s first thought wasn’t about herself. It was about her 11-year-old daughter, Iliana, waiting alone at home.

“I needed to know my daughter was okay,” Leann said. “She was my main focus.”

Leann turned to one of the only people she knew locally: Her colleague Toni Nuñez-Ortega, a fellow director of professional coding.

Leann and Toni first connected professionally in 2025 through a networking introduction while Leann was still living in California. When Leann joined UCHealth in June 2026, the two worked together regularly and deepened a friendship that extended beyond office hours.

When Leann called from the hospital, Toni didn’t hesitate to step in after learning about the emergency surgery and that her biggest concern was making sure Iliana wasn’t facing it alone.

“If I were 11 years old and my mom called to say she was going into surgery, I’d be so scared,” Toni said. “I knew I needed to help Iliana so Leann could focus on herself.”

Toni welcomed Iliana and their family dog into her home, where they stayed for nearly a week while Leann recovered.

Throughout the week, the family made Iliana’s comfort their priority, and it didn’t take long for Iliana to become part of the Nuñez-Ortega household. She picked restaurants for family meals, spent time with the Nuñez-Ortega children and even helped care for all four dogs in the house.

Iliana settled into a comfortable routine, and the anxiety that weighed on both mother and daughter began to ease.

While Leann focused on healing, the support didn’t stop. Other colleagues learned about her situation and offered to bring groceries, help finish setting up her apartment and provide transportation and childcare support.

“I never knew I could have coworkers who would offer such genuine and sincere support, especially since I just joined the team,” Leann said. “It was surreal.”

Trusting someone else with her daughter was a decision Leann never took lightly; however, she never doubted that she made the right choice.

“I’m a very independent single mother, so asking for help isn’t easy,” Leann said. “But Toni never made me feel like I was imposing on her family. She just showed up.”

For Toni, the decision never felt complicated.

“This was an eye-opening experience for me,” she said. “It reinforced the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated.”

The families’ bond had grown beyond friendship by the time Leann left the hospital, and looking back, both women see the experience as a reminder of what makes UCHealth special. A professional connection built through meetings and phone calls became a source of support when it mattered most, creating a friendship that continues today.