Thanksgiving Grandma Wanda Dench Shares Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Wanda Dench is opening up about a health battle.

The Arizona grandmother that went viral after she accidentally invited Jamal Hinton to Thanksgiving with her family in 2016, recently shared that she is battling breast cancer. Jamal took to X (formally known as Twitter) on Oct. 16, to share a written memo on behalf of Wanda.

“Here is a special message from Wanda,” Jamal captioned his tweet, which included the selfie Wanda and Jamal took during their first meeting. The 67-year-old began her message with sharing that despite her current health battle, her and Jamal will honor their tradition.

“We still plan on getting together for Thanksgiving next month,” she wrote. “As we have every year.”

As Wanda shared, “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 have been currently going through chemotherapy.”

“Cancer does not run in my family and all the mammograms I have in the past were always negative,” she continued. “In 2022, I turned 65 years old and thought I would have my last mammogram and not have to think about it again. But I was wrong.”

Wanda went on to note that she has been undergoing treatment with the help of “wonderful," kind,” and “supportive,”people at The Breast Cancer Center and is surrounded by the love of her family.

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

“I 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,” Wanda’s message continued. “After watching the Golden Bachelor last year that gave me hope that I could still find love in my senior year. So, continue getting your checkups, and continue to live YOUR life.”

In 2016, Wanda and Jamal met after she sent him a text message meant for her grandson Randall Burgoyne no comma inviting him to her house for Thanksgiving dinner.

In the years that followed, the pair have continued to get together for Thanksgiving and share the moment with social media. However, it hasn’t been without tragedy, as Wanda’s husband Lonnie Dench died in 2020, following complications from COVID-19.

In 2023, Jamal and Wanda met for the eight consecutive year, this time inviting another stranger identified as Arseni—and blessed the world with their traditional selfie.

"Our year 8 selfie," Jamal, 24, wrote alongside a photo of himself,  Wanda and their guest on Instagram Nov. 22, one day before the holiday. "Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being part of the good in the world this holiday season."

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

The two reunited for a Thanksgiving meal for the eighth consecutive year.

...after teaming up with Airbnb for a promotion in which another guest joined in on the fun. "Our year 8 selfie," Jamal wrote on Instagram. "Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being part of the good in the world this holiday season #airbnbpartner"

The two reunited for the seventh consecutive Thanksgiving.

"Thanksgiving 2021," Jamal wrote on Instagram. "6 years strong."

"5 years strong!" Jamal wrote on Instagram. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone."This marked the first holiday for Wanda without her husband Lonnie Dench. In April 2020, he passed away from COVID-19.

"As promised!" Jamal wrote on Instagram. "Here’s our 2019 update."

Jamal wrote on Instagram, "It’s a tradition now #thanksgiving2018."

After the two reunited for Thanksgiving for the second consecutive year, Jamal wrote on Instagram. "I guess you can say thanksgiving was one for the books."

In 2016, Jamal accepted Wanda's accidental invite to her Thanksgiving dinner, which had meant to text her grandson. "That's what grandma's do..." she wrote, "feed every one."

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