Tracy Morgan is still in critical condition in a New Jersey hospital following a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike last weekend that took the life of his writer, friend, and fellow comedian James McNair. Morgan broke a leg, a femur, his nose, and several ribs in the crash caused by a tractor trailer driver hitting his tour bus from behind.

“Today was a better day,” a rep for Tracy Morgan said in a statement to the media on Thursday. “While Tracy remains in critical, but stable, condition, he continues to show signs of improvement. His medical team remains optimistic that his recovery is progressing.”

The rep also said that Morgan’s fiancee Megan Wollover “remains by his side and is relaying the countless good wishes and prayers that his family, friends and fans have been sending their way. ”

“In addition, Jeff’s wife asked us to pass along that Jeff has also shown much improvement over the past few days,” Morgan’s rep added. “She is very thankful for the love and support she and their family continue to receive.”

43-year-old stand-up comedian Ardie Fuqua, Morgan’s assistant Jeff Millea, and comic Harris Stanton were also injured in the crash. Stanton was treated and released while Fuqua and Millea remain hospitalized.

James McNair–often known as Jimmy Mack or Uncle Jimmy Mack–was laid to rest on Thursday. He was honored at a memorial service held at the Paramount Theater in Peekskill, New York. During the service fellow comics called McNair’s teenage daughter to the stage. Danita McNair is about to graduate from high school and her father was trying to put together enough funds for a prom dress for her. The comedians took up an impromptu collection and presented Danita with $500. She was too overcome with emotion to speak. McNair’s son Jamel, however, said the service is exactly what his dad would have wanted.

“Positivity and unity is what my dad would want everyone to take away from this,” he said afterward. “Love everyone. Say hello to everyone. My dad made sure he said hello to everyone he saw.”

Tracy Morgan would have wanted to be at James McNair’s funeral so he could have said goodbye to his dear friend. If he is aware that the funeral was Thursday it was no doubt a very difficult day for the former SNL star.

Even though Tracy Morgan will no doubt spend several more weeks hospitalized it sounds like his survival is a definite and initially even that sounded like it held significant uncertainty. His road to recovery will likely be a slow and painful one, but with the love of his family and good medical care he will persevere and one day make fans laugh again. As the old adage goes, laughter is the best medicine. May it prove so in Tracy Morgan’s healing.

Image via Wikimedia Commons