There's hope for Jamal Hinton and 'Thanksgiving Grandma' Wanda Dench to spend more holidays together.
Just weeks before Turkey Day, Hinton provided an update on X about Wench's health in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sadly, Dench was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
"Hi, my name is Wanda, you might know how we [met] in 2016 when I accidentally sent him a text inviting him to Thanksgiving when I thought I sent it to my grandson," Dench began the iPhone Notes app message, referring to her accidentally meeting with Hinton. "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."
Dench continued with a message aligned with Breast Cancer Awareness Month: "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."
After sharing the tragic news, Dench revealed that she's currently undergoing chemotherapy. She noted that, along with the disease not running in her family, her past mammograms had always been "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," she wrote.
Dench shared that "after the shock wore off," she received exceptional care from the Breast Cancer Center. "Everyone was so kind, supportive and knowledgable," she wrote. "My family and friends quickly came to my aid and have supported me through everything."
"I've learned a lot of life's lessons though 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," Dench's message continued. "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's late husband, Lonnie Dench, died in 2020 after contracting COVID-19 related symptoms. A Netflix movie based on Hinton, Dench and their ongoing family tradition, titled The Thanksgiving Text, is reportedly in the works, and was first announced in 2021.