Discovery Channel has finally confirmed the premiere date for the "Alaskan Bush People" Christmas special. Informally called "Episode 1," this could also mean it is the first episode of season 8.

It has been notably quiet from the side of the iconic Brown family since their reality show's seventh season ended in August 2016.

After the family matriarch Ami was diagnosed with lung cancer, the whole family had to move to Los Angeles for her treatment at UCLA Medical Center. In early October, it was reported that the Brown extended family upgraded from their small cabin in Alaska to a $2.7 million mansion in Beverly Hills. It was a strategic move that put them just five minutes from the hospital where Ami is getting treatment.

Their social media accounts are rarely updated, and fans of the show could not help but wonder what happened to the family, especially to Ami's battle with cancer.

With the Christmas special coming up, fans will finally be treated to some highly anticipated Ami updates, as well as details on what the family has been up to in the past year. It will be the first time the family will be seen together on screen since the season 7 finale.

It was earlier reported that after her first round of chemotherapy finished in October, Ami flew to Colorado to join the shoot for the Christmas special. The family vacation reportedly did not last long, just enough to finish filming. Then Ami went back to L.A. to continue the second round of radiation.

Reports say this new batch of treatments has taken a toll on the 54-year-old mother's health. She was notably absent on Billy's 65^th birthday, which the family celebrated in a lavish beach party on Sunday.

The "Alaskan Bush People" Christmas special airs Dec. 15, Friday, at 10 p.m. EDT on Discovery.