The History of Nu-Hope

The history of Nu-Hope is an interesting one of tragedy turned into triumph. Nu-Hope was born out of necessity. The founder, Edmund N. Galindo, was born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1933. After high school he apprenticed as a silk screen printer. Eventually, he married, had four children (two boys and two girls) and became a partner in a silk screen printing business. During this time, Mr. Galindo was battling chronic kidney disease. He was not aware of the seriousness of his disease until he volunteered for the war effort in 1941. The doctors were so alarmed by his condition that they told him he had only one more year to live. By the grace of God and some progressive thinking doctors, he survived the prediction by 18 years. When medical treatment was no longer effective, a urinary diversion was performed in January, 1958. At that time ostomy products were complicated, crude and relatively ineffective. There were many months of frustration and anguish trying to use these products. There was frequent leakage and skin irritation which took weeks to heal. Edmund's wife, Hope, offered as much help as she could with home remedies to heal sore skin. She also had to adjust to frequent laundering of clothing and bed linen. When serious problems arose, there were no Enterostomal Therapists to turn to for help.

Mr. Galindo was not about to give up Being of keen mind, he experimented with new appliance designs. By the middle of 1958 he succeeded. He proved the worthiness of his new appliance system on himself, returning to his active life of business, golf and swimming. The doctors in the Los Angeles area were so impressed with his success that they urged him to manufacture and market his appliances so that others might benefit. At first, supplies and appliances were freely handed out. Soon it became apparent that in order to continue helping others a company had to be formed. Thus, in 1959, Nu-Hope Laboratories was founded. The name was derived from Mrs. Galindo's first name "Hope", and the feeling that they were offering "new hope" to others in need. Unhappily, Mr. Galindo's health continued to deteriorate and on November 11, 1959, he passed away.

Determined to carry on the founder's legacy, his widow, Hope, and his 19 year old son, Eugene continued with the business. A daughter, Louise, became an active member of the family business in 1974.

During the pioneering years, Gene Galindo visited and fitted hundreds of ostomy patients in hospitals and homes. Nu-Hope learned much about stomas and stoma care. Dealing with the many different shapes and sizes presented new challenges. Stoma placement, skin condition, and the new ostomate's acceptance of their ostomy were all issues that needed to be addressed. Since Enterostomal Therapists did not exist back then, Nu-Hope partially filled that need, working closely with the medical profession and ostomy associates.

Currently there are over 5,000 E.T.'s and several W.O.C.N. accredited Educational Programs. Nu-Hope continues to work closely with E.T.'s to provide innovative products and services for their special needs. Since 1959, Nu-Hope has built a reputation of manufacturing innovative high quality, reliable ostomy appliances and accessories.