Will Oprah save doomed St. Francis hospital?

Residents of Blue Island are calling on Oprah to help save the town's doomed St. Francis Hospital.

Blue Island is calling upon the power of O.

As reported today in the SouthtownStar, the mayor of Blue Island is starting a campaign calling for residents to reach out to Oprah for help in saving the hospital.

The mayor is asking residents to e-mail Winfrey via her Web site or call her studio to ask for help.

Flyers circulating in the town are urging residents to contact the talk show queen, asking her use her "magic" on the town's behalf.

"Ask her to use her influence with our political leaders to keep the certificate of need intact for a potential sale!" a flier circulating around town reads.

Peloquin told the SouthtownStar getting Winfrey involved in the fight to keep a hospital in Blue Island are a long shot.

"We are knocking on every door that we can," Peloquin said. "We are getting all kinds of advice from everyone. We are using it all."

Winfrey's net worth is estimated to be $1.5 billion, according to Forbes.

Calls to Winfrey's Harpo Studios in Chicago were not returned for comment.

SSM Health Care of St. Louis announced April 2 that St. Francis will close in a matter of months because large numbers of uninsured patients are draining the hospital financially.

Contributing: Guy Tridgell