Anguish over Joan as star lies in coma
COMEDIAN Joan Rivers’ distraught daughter was last night said to be an “emotional wreck” after dashing to be at the star’s bedside as she lies in a coma.
Melissa Rivers made the journey from Los Angeles to New York as soon as she heard her 81-year-old mother had suffered a heart attack during routine throat surgery.
Joan appeared to be stabilising yesterday after she stopped breathing during the procedure on her vocal chords but she remained in a medically-induced coma last night.
Melissa, 46, who brought her son Cooper, 13, with her, said in a statement: “I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support for my mother.
“She is resting comfortably and is with our family. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.”
Close
Joan, known for her raspy voice and no-holds-barred humour, suffered heart failure on Wednesday morning after being sedated for the operation at a clinic in Manhattan.
A New York newspaper reported that Melissa, who is staying in the apartment block where her mother lives, was an “emotional wreck”, devastated by the possibility of losing her mother.
The pair are very close and have a reality TV show together. Melissa has spoken in the past about how she looks up to her.
Joan, whose career in show business has lasted six decades, has been working as hard as ever, with a punishing schedule including 26 appearances planned for the next three months.
The night before her operation she performed a comedy show in which she joked: “I’m 81, I could go at any minute.”