Even though Whitney Thore is the queen of her own hit TLC series My Big Fat Fabulous Life, everyone knows that her mother Barbara “Babs” Thore is out to steal her crown. Fans love Babs because she is just the right amount of sweet and sassy — and she’s hilarious, too! That’s why viewers were extremely concerned when they found out that she suffered a stroke last year — and Whitney shared an update on her mom’s health and her recovery exclusively with Life & Style.

“She’s doing really well,” Whitney revealed to Life & Style, and she mentioned that Babs is in such good health that she and her husband Glenn Thore joined Whitney on her recent press trip to NYC. “She has not gotten back in the car, I will tell you that [laughs] I think she’s hung that up, I hope — unless she’s just waiting six more months to spring it on me again.”

Babs’ health issues played out on Season 4 of the series and fans were heartbroken as they watched Whitney cope with the fact that her mother suffered a stroke as well as a few seizures. As her mother recovered in the hospital, Whitney also had to grapple with her parents’ mortality. “I’ve always thought that when I lose them, I’ll lose my mind, and I’ve always hoped that they would live into, like, very old age,” she said in her confessional.

But thankfully, Babs returned on Season 5 and she has made almost a full recovery, gaining strength again in her right arm and hand — and at six months after her stroke, she was cleared by her doctor to be able to get behind the wheel and drive. Of course, Whitney agreed to accompany her mother for a drive around their neighborhood, and it’s safe to say that Babs will not be taking her car out for a spin on her own again anytime soon. Watch the video below to see a clip from the episode.