The family of widower Earl Albert, who donated the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree this year, is providing an update on his health after suffering a stroke.

Due to health reasons, Earl Albert was unable to attend the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on December 4th. His family, who attended the tree lighting ceremony, appeared on TODAY on Dec. 5 to reflect on recent events.

“He’s doing well,” Earl Albert’s daughter-in-law, Shawn, said of Earl Albert’s health. “He is at Sunnyview Rehab working on strength and wellness.”

In an interview with NBC’s Joe Fryer that aired on TODAY on Dec. 5, Shawn Albert explained that he still has some “medical hurdles to overcome.”

Instead of attending the event in person, Earl Albert watched the event on television. Shawn Albert noted TODAY that Earl Albert hosted a “little wake party” in his room for the occasion.

“He had decorated his room. He had his Santa hat on and my son had FaceTime with him so he could kind of be here,” she said.

Earl Albert has also received “thousands” of get well letters from fans.

Shawn Albert’s husband and Earl Albert’s son Michael added that attending the tree lighting ceremony in person was an unforgettable experience.

“It was an overwhelming feeling of joy. It was a tribute to my mother’s life. Just the giving back and the loving nature of her. It was like our way of giving to the world. It’s great,” he said.

In an interview with Fryer that aired in early November, Earl Albert revealed why the holidays are so special to him.

He explained that he planted this year’s Christmas tree at his home in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1967, shortly after he and his late wife, Leslie Albert, were married.

Then, a few days after her death in 2020, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze, knocked on the Albert family’s door and asked if they would be interested in donating their tree for the holiday season.

“This is definitely her work,” Shawn Albert said in the interview.

Earl Albert added that donating the tree was “probably one of the greatest honors” of his life.

He noted that attending the tree lighting ceremony would be very special for him because he would think of Leslie Albert and “how much she enjoyed trees” and the holiday season.