WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. (WWLP) - The man who donated his huge Norway spruce tree to be the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree hopes for a Christmas miracle. The tree in West Stockbridge was cut down last Thursday, Nov. 7th however, the owner who donated the tree, Earl Albert suffered a stroke recently and is hoping to recover in time for the tree's lighting ceremony on December 4th, according to NBC. Dry weather raises concerns for Christmas tree farms The selection process for the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree began in July 2020 when Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze, first spotted the tree while searching for future New York City Christmas trees. He has always looked for a Norway Spruce because of its grand scale and strong branches. Photo courtesy: Tishman SpeyerEarl Albert's son Michael and his wife Shawn When he thought he found what he was looking for, he knocked on the property’s door and met Earl Albert. Without hesitation, the Albert family agreed to donate their tree to become a holiday season icon. Earl donated the tree to honor his late wife, Leslie, who died days before Pauze's visit. NBC states that they both planted the tree in their yard in 1967 as newlyweds. The tree is now 74 feet tall and weighs 11 tons. The tree arrived at Rockefeller Center on the morning of November 9th and will be decorated with 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and topped with a three-dimensional Swarovski crystal star. Local News Headlines Rabies suspected in raccoons in Northampton, Easthampton Local schools see increase in respiratory illnesses One person dies in Greenfield house fire on Silver Street PetSmart Charities helps to improve accessible veterinary care at Dakin Humane Society WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.