Topics: Cancer, Community, Health, Social Media, Viral
The day in which Wanda Dench and her unofficially adopted grandson didn't spend Thanksgiving together was bound to come one day.
For those that don't recall who Wanda and Jamal Hinton are, I'll give you a quick recap - it goes all the way back to 2016, and involves a text to the wrong number.
Eight years ago, on the lead-up to the big day Wanda text who she though was her grandson inviting him over for dinner, adding that 'Amanda and Justin' were also invited too.
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Hilariously, Jamal replied: "Who is those.."
"Your grandma," Wanda replied.
The two exchanged selfies and a few more texts and Jamal asked if he could still take a spot up at her dinner table - and when she replied yes, it became a Thanksgiving tradition in the Dench household to have this once stranger round to dine with them.
Thanksgiving just gone would have been their ninth spent together, but heartbreakingly, the 67-year-old seemingly wasn't up for hosting after she and Jamal announced to the world the awful news of her cancer diagnosis.
This year, the pair spent it together briefly over Instagram Live.
Speaking on the social media platform, Wanda explained why they were spending the holiday apart: "I just recently finished up with chemotherapy, so I'm not 100 percent yet.
"And I live about two hours away from where Jamal lives. And so we decided that this year would be best for my health if I stayed at home.
"I was looking so forward to meeting his family and having turkey with everybody, but we have to accept things the way they are, and I'm sure next year is going to be so much better."
In October, Jamal told of Wanda's diagnosis through a series of pictures on Twitter.
The 25-year-old included screenshots of a statement that she wrote on iPhone Notes.
He captioned the post: "Here is a special message from Wanda."
Her 'Notes' read: "Hi, my name is Wanda, you might know how we meant in 2016 when I accidentally sent him a text inviting him to Thanksgiving when I thought I sent it to my grandson.
"It went viral and it changed our life for the better and we still plan on getting together for Thanksgiving next month as we have every year.
"But what I want to let you know today is this month is Breast Cancer awareness month."
She continued: "Earlier this year I came down with bronchitis and had a CT scan to check out my lungs. That's when a mass in my breast was detected and they suggested I get a mammogram and that verified I had breast cancer.
"I am have been currently going through chemotherapy. Cancer does not run in my family and all the mammograms I had in the past were always negative.
"In 2022, | turned 65 years old and I thought I would have my last mammogram and not have to think about it again. But I was wrong."
She went on to explain how she received care from the Breast Cancer Center in Arizona and how her diagnosis has helped her see the world in a different light.
We wish you all the best, grandma Wanda Dench!
