The History of Esperança, Inc. and the hospital ship 'ESPERANÇA'
Father Luke Tupper, a former Navy and Marine Corps doctor, first witnessed the medical deprivation of the children of South America while traveling to the South Pole aboard a U.S. Navy icebreaker. When his military service was completed, he entered the Franciscan Order. After his ordination, Father Luke was assigned to Brazil and began the overwhelming task of bringing medical care to the people of that region.
In the Central Amazon Region, the vast majority of about 250,000 people lived up to three days travel by boat from the Esperança clinic. Father Luke, knowing he had to be able to reach the people with medical services, asked the Esperança Board of Directors for a medical boat. In 1972, Esperança purchased the San Diego passenger ferry, the Point Loma, for $15,000. Over the course of 18 months, with donated materials and volunteer labor, the Point Loma was converted to the hospital ship Esperança.
The Esperança was christened in June 1973, and arrived in Brazil on May 10, 1974. It was soon plying the waters of the Amazon, visiting isolated villages where people had never seen, much less received treatment from, doctors, dentists, and nurses. Esperança encouraged people to give what they could afford; believing that the minimal charges for services helped the people maintain their self respect. The Esperança soon sprouted with chicken coops and a pigpen as grateful villagers contributed what they could, mostly animals and produce in their cash-short economy.
After 10 years of service, the Esperança was retired, and the medical and surgical facilities were moved on shore. Today, the Fundaçao Esperança occupies a full city block with up-to-date medical facilities. They are a self-sustaining operation after 30 years of financial support from Esperança, Inc.
Father Luke worked tirelessly and selflessly for six years (1969-1975) in the Amazon jungle. He returned to the U.S. to pursue a residency in ophthalmology, but sadly, was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1978.
