Wanda Dench, the Phoenix grandmother who went viral in 2016 after she accidentally invited an unknown Black teen to Thanksgiving dinner, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, NBC News reported.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Dench had intended to send the invitation to her grandson when she mistakenly texted Jamal Hinton. Despite the mix-up, she allowed Hinton to join them for the dinner. That was the beginning of an amazing friendship between Hinton and the Dench family.
The news of Dench’s breast cancer diagnosis was shared by Hinton in a statement on X on Wednesday. Dench started her statement by introducing herself and touching on how she crossed paths with Hinton.
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She also emphasized October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month before sharing details about her diagnosis. “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,” she revealed.
Dench also stated that she’s currently going through chemotherapy. She then said that cancer does not run in her family, and all the “mammograms I had in the past were always negative.”
“In 2022 I 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,” Dench said, adding that she ended up meeting the “most wonderful people at the Breast Cancer Center” after the “shock wore off.”
“Everyone was so kind, supportive and knowledgeable. My family and friends quickly came to my aid and have supported me through everything,” she said. Dench also stressed on the essence of living and finding love once again.
“I’ve learned a lot of life’s lessons through it all, but what I want to stress most of all is just because you may be older, we still have a life to live,” she said. “After watching the Golden Bachelor last year that gave me hope that I could still find love in my senior years. So continue getting your checkups, and continue to live YOUR life!”
Dench received an outpouring of support in the comment section of the post. Her cancer diagnosis comes about four years after her husband Lonnie died of Covid-19. The announcement of his passing was also shared by Hinton on x.
“As some of you may have already found out tonight, Lonnie did not make it … he passed away Sunday morning, but Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!” Hinton said in the 2020 post, per NBC News.
Hinton was a high school senior when Dench mistakenly sent him the invitation. After receiving a text from a strange number, Hinton asked who the person was, and Dench replied saying she was his grandmother.
Hinton, who was doubtful about the claim, asked her to send him a picture, which she did. To his surprise, it was a White woman. He then replied with a picture of himself to let her know she got the wrong person.
“You not my grandma,” he replied with a laughing emoji. Hinton then went ahead to ask if the invitation was still open despite the mix-up. “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone,” Dench replied.
Hinton subsequently shared the awkward but funny encounter and invitation on X. The pair have since spent every Thanksgiving together after they went viral. And despite her diagnosis, Dench said that ritual is not going to change this year.
She said the viral text changed their lives “for the better” and they “still plan on getting together for Thanksgiving next month as we have every year.”
Somebody grandma is coming in clutch this year!! Ayee!!! pic.twitter.com/QGrx83nHLl
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 15, 2016
