Comedian Joan Rivers, five days after a near-fatal heart and lung failure, remained on life support Tuesday as her daughter, Melissa, stood vigil at her mom’s bedside. 
 
 Melissa Rivers issued a three-sentence statement that shed little new light on the situation — including the medical options going forward as the “Fashion Police�? host battles to stay alive. 
 
 Rivers went into cardiac and respiratory arrest during a doctor’s visit on Thursday, and medical machines have been keeping her alive since the weekend. 
 
 “On behalf of my mother and our family, we are extremely grateful for all the love and support we have received,�? Melissa Rivers said. 
 
 Rivers' assistant Graham Reed was seen getting into a taxicab Tuesday morning. (Marcus Santos/Daily News) Rivers was hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital on Thursday. (Richard Harbus/(Richard Harbus/for New York Dai) 
 
 “At this time, she does remain on life support. 
 
 “I know my mother would be overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of kindness and I want to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers.�? 
 
 Rivers, 81, remained surrounded by family and friends in her room at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her grim-faced assistant, Graham Reed, left the hospital Tuesday morning without comment. 
 
 Several sources told the Daily News that if Rivers pulls through, she’s in for a rehab process that could take months or even years and would keep her out of the public eye. 
 
 A woman whose brother is hospitalized on the same floor as Joan Rivers said Melissa has gone out of her way to treat them nicely despite her own burden. 
 
 “It really affects her, what she’s going through,�? said the woman, who declined to give her name. “She’s hurting, and yet she took the time to really care for us — and she doesn’t even know us.�? 
 
 Joan Rivers (r.) with daughter Melissa Rivers, who has been by her mother’s side since she was hospitalized Thursday. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) Joan Rivers (l.) with daughter Melissa Rivers, who has been by her mother’s side since she was hospitalized Thursday. ( ERIC THAYER /REUTERS) 
 
 Doctors at Mount Sinai had initially placed Rivers into a medically induced coma as they began running tests on her. 
 
 The medical team hopes to get a read on any damage caused when Rivers stopped breathing last week at an Upper East Side clinic. Rivers was getting her throat checked out. 
 
 bpaddock@nydailynews.com ||||| Christopher Polk/Getty Images 
 
 Joan Rivers is a fighter. 
 
 As the E! Fashion Police host remains hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, a source reveals the comedian is making small, but positive, steps. 
 
 "It's a slow process, but she's on the road to recovery," a source close to the situation tells E! News exclusively. "She's getting better. Don't believe all this ridiculous speculation." 
 
 Joan stopped breathing while undergoing a minor throat procedure Aug. 28 in New York City. She was then rushed to the hospital where she was placed in a medically induced coma. 
 
 Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, flew across the country the same day with her son, Cooper, to be by the comic legend's side. 
 
 NEWS: Fashion Police co-hosts send heartfelt prayers to Joan Rivers 
 
 "She is a rock. She is calmer than I've ever seen her," the source told E! News in regards to Melissa. "All these reports about doomsday are not true. She is her mother's daughter and she's tough as nails. She's the person keeping everyone together." 
 
 The insider added, "She's focused on one thing: Her mother's health." 
 
 Joan remains in stable, yet critical, condition. On Sunday, Melissa thanked fans for all their prayers and well wishes. 
 
 "Thank you for your continued love and support," she said in a statement. "We are keeping our fingers crossed." 
 
 Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Rivers family at this time. 
 
 PHOTOS: Check out the best jokes Joan Rivers has made about celebs 
 
 RELATED VIDEOS: ||||| Joan Rivers was placed in a medically induced coma Thursday — just hours after cracking jokes on stage about her own mortality. 
 
 Emergency workers pulled the unresponsive comic from an Upper East Side doctor’s office where Rivers was in the midst of a procedure on her vocal cords, sources told the Daily News. The comic and fashion critic was rushed about 9:40 a.m. from Yorkville Endoscopy on E. 93rd St. to Mount Sinai Hospital. 
 
 “I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support for my mother,” Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, said in a statement Thursday night. 
 
 The daughter, 46, arrived at the hospital in a Chevrolet Suburban with tinted windows just after 8 p.m. She entered through a shipping and receiving gate and was whisked up to the 11th-floor luxe suites to see her mother. 
 
 “She is resting comfortably and is with our family,” Melissa Rivers said. “We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.” 
 
 The medical emergency was a shocking turn from the night before when Rivers left ’em laughing during a standup show where she joked about her time remaining on Earth. 
 
 Joan Rivers' assistant, Graham Reed, is seen Thursday outside Mount Sinai Hospital, where the comedian was rushed after she stopped breathing during surgery at a clinic. (Marcus Santos/New York Daily News) Melissa Rivers arrived in this SUV at Mount Sinai Hospital on Thursday evening. (Michael Graae/For NY Daily News) Rivers was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital on Madison Ave. at 99th St. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News) Joan Rivers visited Yorkville Endoscopy on Thursday for a procedure on her vocal cords. (Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News) 
 
 “She did a joke onstage, she goes, ‘I’m 81 — I could go at any moment,’” recounted Shade Rupe, 45, who attended the Wednesday night show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. “‘I could fall over right here and you all could say, ‘I was there!’” 
 
 The laughter was replaced Thursday by grave concern, as friends stood vigil at the hospital and awaited Melissa Rivers’ arrival from California. 
 
 “We are scared,” a family source told The News. “This is not looking good.” 
 
 Rivers, who was in critical condition late Thursday, will remain in a coma until the weekend, when doctors will discuss with her daughter the damage caused when her mother fell unconscious during a routine visit. 
 
 “They don’t know how long she was starved of oxygen,” a source said. 
 
 (New York Daily News) 
 
 A source said Rivers had struggled with vocal trouble for the past year, and finally went Thursday for a diagnosis. The Brooklyn-born comic, known for her distinctive husky voice, kidded with friends about her throat woes. 
 
 “She is going to have a million jokes about what that doctor did to her,” predicted one optimistic pal. 
 
 Rivers’ longtime publicist, Judy Katz, was in Rivers’ hospital room with assistants Graham Reed and Jocelyn Pickett. 
 
 Reed was overheard outside the hospital telling someone that Rivers was “not conscious, but she’s stable.” 
 
 A family source said other friends were gathering Thursday inside Rivers’ apartment, nervously awaiting medical updates. 
 
 Joan Rivers is fighting for her life after her heart stopped during a routine treatment for a vocal problem on Thursday. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) Joan Rivers was hospitalized after she stopped breathing during surgery on Thursday. (Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Joan Rivers holds her award at the Daytime Emmy Awards. (Time Life Pictures/The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett) 
 
 “She would want us all to laugh,” the source said. “But at the moment, we are all praying.” 
 
 There was an immediate Twitter outpouring for the groundbreaking comedienne, widely hailed for helping women find their place in the male-dominated industry. 
 
 Among those sending along goodwill were two current comics who followed in her funny footsteps. 
 
 “Get well my friend,” tweeted fellow comic Kathy Griffin. 
 
 “I’m thinking about you and sending lots of love your way,” wrote Ellen DeGeneres. 
 
 This was Joan Rivers performing on Wednesday. The next day, she was rushed to the hospital when she stopped breathing during a visit to the doctor. (Shade Rupe) Joan Rivers stops for pic with fan Shade Rupe after her show on Wednesday. (Shade Rupe) Joan Rivers Fashion Police 2014 Emmys on E! Joan Rivers during an interview with host Johnny Carson on April 25, 1986. (NBC/NBC via Getty Images) 
 
 Outside the hospital, fans turned out to support the take-no-prisoners comic whose career stretched across six decades. 
 
 “I love her,” said fan Frank Rosado, 55, who came to Mount Sinai after hearing the grim news. “She’s a great human being. I would not like to lose her. We just lost Robin Williams.” 
 
 Celebrity pals sent message of support, too. 
 
 “We love you Joan Rivers #prayers xoxoxo,” tweeted Hoda Kotb a News columnist and “Today” show host. 
 
 “Love and prayers for Joan Rivers,” wrote Bernadette Peters. 
 
 Melissa Rivers is seen at LAX as she rushes to New York to be with mom Joan Rivers, who is reportedly in critical condition. (Sharky / Splash News) Melissa Rivers is seen at LAX as she rushes to New York to be with mom Joan Rivers, who is reportedly in critical condition. (Sharky / Splash News) Melissa Rivers is seen at Los Angeles International Airport as she rushes to be with her mother, Joan Rivers, who is in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. 
 
 The perpetually busy Rivers was slated for a now-canceled Friday night show at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, N.J. 
 
 Rivers became a household name shortly after a 1965 breakthrough spot that left Johnny Carson in tears behind his desk on “The Tonight Show.” 
 
 Over the years, she repeatedly reinvented herself: Hosting a daytime talk show, co-starring with daughter Melissa on reality television, writing a dozen books, even selling jewelry on cable television. 
 
 But she never left her standup career behind, and was actually trying out some new material at her Wednesday night appearance. 
 
 Rupe, who had never seen Rivers in person, said he was amazed by her energy and attitude. 
 
 “She was so on,” he recalled Thursday. “If you had me guess her age, I’d say she was in her 50s. She didn’t miss a step, she didn’t go ditzy, she didn’t forget anything and her timing was amazing.” 
 
 He said she was perfectly in control from the moment she walked on stage. Rivers accepted a bouquet of flowers from an excited fan at the end of the one-hour show. 
 
 Rupe said the comedienne left the 99-seat theater on W. 43rd St. about 9:30 p.m. The plastic surgery veteran posed for a picture with Rupe before she headed off. 
 
 “She looked fantastic,” recalled Rupe. “I saw her leaving, and I just wanted to say ‘Hi.’ I said, ‘Would you mind doing a picture?’ and she did it.” 
 
 With Rich Schapiro 
 
 dsandoval@nydailynews.com 
 
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 Sign up for BREAKING NEWS Emails privacy policy Thanks for subscribing! ||||| Comedienne Joan Rivers remains on life support in a New York City hospital, her daughter, Melissa Rivers, said on her mother's Facebook page on Tuesday. 
 
 Rivers, 81, was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital on Thursday after going into cardiac arrest during a routine procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy on the Upper East Side. Melissa and Rivers' grandson Cooper flew to New York later that same day. 
 
 Earlier Tuesday there were various disputed reports that Rivers was being brought out of her medically induced coma in order to assess possible brain damage. 
 
 Meanwhile there have been conflicting accounts as to the severity of her condition. Just yesterday, a source told the E! Network the comedy queen was "getting better." 
 
 "It's a slow process, but she's on the road to recovery..." a source close to the situation told E!. "Don't believe all this ridiculous speculation," the person added. 
 
 The New York Daily News reported that a taping of Rivers' show, Fashion Police which was supposed to coincide with New York Fashion Week has been cancelled. 
 
 Twitter continues to light up with support from fans of the legendary funny lady. 
 
 
 
 .@Joan_Rivers Get well soon Joan - keep fighting! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2014 
 
 We have a gig in 2 weeks and I'm not doing it without you YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS @Joan_Rivers — Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) August 31, 2014 
 
 4 the first time in years I got down on my knees & prayed tonight! I encourage U 2 do the same 4 @Joan_Rivers my grandma! #inconsolable — Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) August 30, 2014 
 
 Sending love, love and more love to Joan. @Joan_Rivers — Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) September 1, 2014 
 
 Dear @Joan_Rivers, FYI the flowers u JUST sent me r still goin strong! Thinking of U every minute. LUV U #JoanRivers pic.twitter.com/VWXe0Xb85e — Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) September 1, 2014 
 
 Oh, Joanie. This isn't funny. Please wake up. I promise I'll be your piano player...for free again! Loving you and praying for @Joan_Rivers — Barry Manilow (@barrymanilow) September 1, 2014 
 
 Please keep praying for Joan. RT @nikkibrooks88: @Joan_Rivers @MelRivers wishing the wonderful, clever, funny Joan a full & speedy recovery — Giuliana Rancic (@GiulianaRancic) August 31, 2014 
 
 It's Sunday morning and I am praying for a miracle for the great Joan Rivers. The world needs Joan. 🙏🙏 — Andy Cohen (@Andy) August 31, 2014 
 
 We can't lose Joan. All love and healing wishes to Her Majesty Joan Rivers- being ripped a new one by you is an honor to be treasured. — Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 31, 2014 
 
 Sending love to my pal, Joan Rivers. — Joy Behar (@JoyVBehar) August 29, 2014 
 
 I’m thinking about you, @Joan_Rivers, and sending lots of love your way. — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 28, 2014
– Joan Rivers is still on life support, her daughter says on Facebook, per the Wire. "I know my mother would be overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of kindness and I want to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers," Melissa Rivers notes. Family and friends are with Rivers in the hospital, the New York Daily News reports. Yesterday, a source to E! News said Rivers was "on the road to recovery," though slowly, while other reports said she was being brought out of a medically induced coma. A recovery would be followed by a months- or years-long rehab period during which she wouldn't appear publicly, insiders tell the Daily News.