Joan Rivers’ Fight For Life: She Faces ‘Years-Long Rehab Process’ That Will End Her Career

Joan Rivers remained on life support at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital Wednesday, her daughter Melissa said, as reports indicated the comedy legend could be facing years of rehab as the next hurdle in her recovery process.

Insiders told the NY Daily News that the 81-year-old Fashion Police personality — who was rushed to the hospital last week after suffering cardiac and respiratory arrest during a procedure on her vocal cords — could face a years-long rehab process that would effectively sideline her show biz career.

Despite the dark time, the comic’s daughter remained compassionate and friendly as she kept vigil at the hospital, according to a family member of a patient being treated on the same floor as Rivers.

“It really affects her, what she’s going through,” the woman told the paper. “She’s hurting, and yet she took the time to really care for us — and she doesn't even know us.”

Echoing said sentiment, an insider told the NY Post that Melissa, 46, remained “a rock” during her mother’s fight for her life.

“She is calmer than I’ve ever seen her: All these reports about doomsday are not true,” the source said. “She is her mother’s daughter and she’s tough as nails.

“She’s the person keeping everyone together.”

As we previously reported, Melissa said in a brief statement Tuesday, “On behalf of my mother and our family, we are extremely grateful for all the love and support we have received. 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.”

Legendary radio personality Casey Kasem dies at 82

Born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, the disc jockey began his career in nearby Flint before becoming an announcer on Armed Forces Radio Korea Network in 1952. Upon his return, he went on to work at radio stations in California, Ohio and New York before launching "American Top 40" in 1970. He hosted that show until 1988, and then a revived version from 1998 until 2004, when Ryan Seacrest took over. From 1988 until 1998, Kasem hosted a show called "Casey's Top 40."

Kasem, who was married twice and has four children, also had a colorful TV career, which included doing the voice for Shaggy on "Scooby-Doo" as well as voice-overs for many commercials. A devout vegan, he supported animal rights and environmental causes, as well as political organizations that spoke to him. Originally of Lebanese origin, Kasem felt it was important to improve Arab-Jewish relations.

In recent years, the radio personality's health declined and in 2013, his daughter Kerri said he was suffering from a form of dementia. Around that time, his three oldest children and brother launched a claim that his wife Jean was not letting them see their father. A court denied a petition his daughter Julie launched to take care of her father in October 2013, but just last month, Kerri was granted conservatorship amid a battle with Kasem's second wife, her stepmother, Jean.

“It’s a sad day for the broadcasting community and for radio listeners around the world,” said Ryan Seacrest, who took over "American Top 40" from Kasem in 2009, in a statement. “When I was a kid, I would listen to Casey Kasem’s AT40 show every weekend, and dream about someday becoming a radio DJ. So when decades later I took over his AT40 countdown show, it was a surreal moment. Casey had a distinctive friendly on-air voice, and he was just as affable and nice if you had the privilege to be in his company. He’ll be greatly missed by all of us.”