Dan Hallman/Invision/AP Joan Rivers' daughter Melissa River (right) is keeping her 'fingers crossed' that her mom's condition will improve. 
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images A source tells the Daily News that while Melissa Rivers is putting on a brave face, she is 'totally hysterical' over her mom's condition.Previous Next
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Joan Rivers’ daughter is keeping her “fingers crossed” for a miracle to bring the 81-year-old comedic legend back from the brink — even as the family considers legal action over the botched procedure that caused her collapse.
Doctors began lifting the feisty funny lady from her medically induced coma Sunday at Mount Sinai Hospital as Melissa Rivers, her only child, waited to see how the legendary comic will respond.
“The waking-up process has begun and will take until Tuesday,” a source close to the family told the Daily News. “There is real concern that the part of the brain that controls motor skills may have been compromised, leaving her as either a vegetable or in a wheelchair.”
And that has the family considering a lawsuit.
“Shock and upset is turning to anger, and they are looking for someone to blame,” said a source close to the family, hinting at action against Yorkville Endoscopy, where Rivers had a routine throat procedure on Thursday.
“The night before, she was performing and now she is on life support,” the source continued. “An 81-year-old should not have that procedure as an outpatient. Very ill advised.”
For now, Melissa Rivers focused on the coming medical news.
Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News Joan Rivers' best friend, Margie Stern (center), leaves Mount Sinai Hospital after visiting the comedian on Sunday. “We are keeping our fingers crossed,” she said in a statement Sunday that also thanked admirers of her mother for an outpouring of support.
She said her mom, who is in serious condition, was “resting comfortably” and asked that “everyone keep her in your thoughts and prayers.”
Even as she tried to sound upbeat, a source told The News that Melissa Rivers is “totally hysterical and is at a loss for what to do (because) they won’t know the extent of the damage until Tuesday at the earliest.”
Sources have told The News that Joan Rivers would not want to live unless she could enjoy “a full and active life,” as one source put it. “(She) would never want to be a burden on anyone.”
The host of “Fashion Police” on E! went into cardiac and respiratory arrest Thursday morning while undergoing a procedure on her vocal cords at the private Upper East Side clinic.
Doctors subsequently put the Emmy-winner in a coma to stabilize her vital signs. As of Sunday, she was breathing with the help of a machine.
Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News Writer and producer Jay Redack speaks about his work and friendship with Joan Rivers outside Mount Sinai Hospital on Sunday. Rivers’ friend and collaborator, Jay Redack, visited the stricken comedian on Sunday and said he was stunned by her sudden health setback.
Redack said he had gone to dinner with her on Wednesday night and that they had discussed the minor throat procedure she was about to undergo.
He said Rivers, who performed a comic routine Wednesday night at the Laurie Beechman Theater near Times Square, showed no signs of a pending medical crisis.
“We talked about life, Melissa, boyfriends, tennis lessons, and talked about her act,” said Redack — who co-wrote “Rabbit Test,” the 1978 movie Rivers directed, and has been a close friend for 40 years.
“You know how polarizing she could be, but people don’t realize what a fantastic lady she is, the charities that she supports, without fanfare, without people knowing,” Redack said. “She is a great person.”
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