"The Hoven hospital is the economic lifeblood of our community and everyone knows it and not only is it the economic lifeblood, it is the life and death care of Hoven."

People living in Hoven, South Dakota are rallying together hoping to keep the doors of their hospital open.

Medicare cuts and an outstanding loan are two of the factors placing the Holy Infant hospital in jeopardy.

Holy Infant is the small community's only hospital. The town's closest hospital with the biggest array of services is Avera St. Luke's in Aberdeen, eighty miles away.

Fewer and fewer people are being admitted through the clinic and that has led to some financial struggles. Now the hospital is fighting to stay open.

Agnes Rausch is an assisted living patient at Holy Infant hospital and grew up in Hoven.

"I've lived here all my life and to go to a different hospital or wherever we would have to go, of course it isn't hard for me to get acquainted with people but it's always best to be with people that you know."

That's why the town has started fundraising in an effort to reach five hundred thousand dollars. The hospital needs to reach this goal by the end of the year. Vern Rausch is the chairman of the fundraising committee.

"When the crisis arose, people just buckled down and said we are going to do whatever we can to keep it going."

So far, fundraising efforts have generated about half of the money needed for the hospital to stay open and Agnes is hoping more funds will come in.

"Most of the residents here are local people and they do want to be next to their families."

Holy Infant hospital employs 47 people. Some of their jobs could be in jeopardy if the hospital went under.