Thanksgiving Grandma Wanda Dench Shares Cancer Diagnosis

Ah, the heartwarming tale of Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench! This duo has been gracing our Thanksgiving feeds for seven consecutive years now, and their story is as inspiring as a well-roasted turkey on a crisp autumn day.

Wanda Dench is opening up about a health battle.

In 2016, the Arizona grandmother who became internet famous when she accidentally invited Jamal Hinton to Thanksgiving with her family, has revealed that she is currently fighting breast cancer. On October 16th, Jamal shared a message on social media (originally known as Twitter) that was written by Wanda regarding her health condition.

Jamal titled his tweet with this: ‘A unique message from Wanda,'” (or simply “Jamal’s tweet was labeled as ‘Wanda’s special message’). The tweet contained a picture that Jamal and Wanda took during their initial encounter. Wanda, at 67 years old, started her message by mentioning her ongoing health struggles but reassuring that she and Jamal will uphold their tradition.

She mentioned that our traditional gathering for Thanksgiving is still scheduled for the upcoming month, just as it has been annually.

According to Wanda, she fell ill with bronchitis earlier this year and underwent a CT scan to examine her lungs. During this process, a mass in her breast was found, leading the doctors to recommend a mammogram. The results confirmed that she had breast cancer, and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

She said, “My family doesn’t have a history of cancer, and all the previous mammograms I had came back negative. Last year, when I turned 65, I assumed that would be my final mammogram and I wouldn’t need to worry about it again. Unfortunately, I was mistaken.

Wanda mentioned that she’s receiving care from compassionate, helpful individuals at The Breast Cancer Center, who are not just skilled but also wonderful, kind, and supportive. Moreover, she is enveloped in the warmth of her family’s love.

The viral grandmother ended her message with sound advice and optimism.

Wanda emphasized that despite our ages, there’s still much life left for us to experience. Watching the ‘Golden Bachelor’ last year reminded her of this possibility, even in her senior years. So, keep going for regular health checks and make sure you’re living YOUR life to the fullest.

In the year 2016, Wanda accidentally messaged Jamal instead of her grandson Randall Burgoyne about an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner at her home.

After that, they’ve consistently spent Thanksgiving together and broadcasted the occasion on social media. Yet, their time together hasn’t been devoid of sorrow, as Lonnie Dench, Wanda’s husband, passed away in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.

In 2023, Jamal and Wanda met each other for the eighth straight year. This occasion introduced a newcomer named Arseni to their gathering, and they all took a customary group photo, a traditionally-taken selfie that brought joy to the world.

On Instagram, posted by Jamal on November 22, a day before the holiday, is a selfie from year 8 featuring himself, Wanda, and our guest. He thanked Arseni for staying with us and contributing positively to the holiday season.

Keep reading to look back at Jamal and Wanda’s Thanksgiving tradition…