The Arizona grandmother who captured hearts nationwide when she accidentally invited a stranger to her Thanksgiving dinner has shared a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis.
Friends Jamal and Wanda have shared some heartbreaking news. Credit: Instagram/jamalhinton12
Ahead of Thanksgiving 2024, Wanda Dench has revealed that she is battling breast cancer.
Eight years ago, Dench became an internet sensation through a simple misdirected text, which led to an unlikely friendship with Jamal Hinton.
After accidentally sending Hinton a text message asking if he would be coming for Thanksgiving dinner. After exchanging selfies, Hinton – then a high school senior – replied: “You’re not my grandma,” before asking if he could still “get a plate” at the dinner table.
The sweet grandma responded: “Of course, you can. That’s what grandmas do… feed everyone.”
This bond grew stronger over the years, evolving into a cherished tradition that captivated many across the nation. Each year, the two unlikely friends have spent the Holiday together.
However, the duo’s story has taken a poignant turn when Dench disclosed her health struggles, which began earlier this year following a bronchitis diagnosis. A subsequent CT scan intended to check her lungs unexpectedly revealed a mass in her breast.
“That’s when a mass in my breast was detected and they suggested I get a mammogram and that verified I had breast cancer,” Dench explained in the statement, shared on social media via Hinton.
Dench shared that she has begun chemotherapy treatments.
Dench, who had believed her mammogram at age 65 would be her last due to a history of negative screenings and no family precedent of cancer, expressed her initial shock and the ensuing support she received from healthcare professionals and loved ones. “After the shock wore off, I met with the most wonderful people at the Breast Cancer Center. Everyone was so kind, supportive, and knowledgeable,” she recounted.
Among those offering unwavering support was Hinton – who has become a fixture in her life, especially after the loss of Dench’s husband, Lonnie, to covid in 2020. Hinton had previously shared news of Lonnie’s passing on X, acknowledging the comfort that public support brought to Dench during that difficult time.
Despite her health challenges, Dench remains optimistic and spirited, referencing her fondness for “The Golden Bachelor” and her belief in the possibility of finding love in her senior years. She also emphasized the importance of regular checkups and living life to the fullest: “So continue getting your checkups, and continue to live your YOUR life,” she encouraged.
Credit: Instagram/jamalhinton12
This Thanksgiving, despite her health battles, Dench plans to continue her tradition with Hinton, reaffirming the resilience of their bond. “We still plan on getting together for Thanksgiving next month as we have every year,” she confirmed, ensuring that their tradition and her story of unexpected friendship and enduring courage will carry on.
We wish Dench the very best on her continued health journey, and we hope the two friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving – their ninth together!
