From A Mistake To A 10-Year Friendship: How THIS Grandma & Teen Became Internet’s Favourite Thanksgiving Duo

Mistakes can be beautiful sometimes. A mistake changed the lives of 26-year-old Jamal Hinton and 68-year-old Wanda Dench, turning them into the viral Thanksgiving duo and the internet’s favourite personalities. This Thanksgiving, they celebrated 10 years of their unique tradition.How One Wrong Text Started a Lifelong FriendshipAs per a Daily Mail report, Wanda Dench, 68, and Jamal Hinton, 26, from Arizona, first connected in 2016 when Dench mistakenly texted Hinton, believing she was messaging her grandson. That small mix-up turned into a bond that transformed both their lives.The wrong text quickly became a viral moment after Hinton jokingly responded, “Still get a plate tho?”Dench replied instantly, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas

do – feed everyone.”Hinton showed up for Thanksgiving dinner that same year, and the two have celebrated the holiday together ever since.

Reuniting After a Year ApartLast year, the pair couldn’t meet in person because Dench was undergoing breast cancer treatment and was immunocompromised. They instead connected over Instagram Live, with Hinton passing his phone around so his family could send her holiday wishes.During the livestream, Dench said, “I just recently finished up with chemotherapy, so I'm not 100 percent yet… we decided that this year would be best for my health if I stayed at home,'' as quoted by the report. Now cancer-free, Dench is excited to return to their tradition as they meet at Hinton’s family home for Thanksgiving.

Marking 10 Years With a Special CelebrationTo honour their decade-long journey, Hinton and Dench have partnered with Green Giant for a special Thanksgiving meal. The brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary, while the duo celebrates 10 years of a friendship born from a mistyped number, the report added. The company provided classic holiday staples like turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Hinton’s family added their own favourites — prime rib, brisket and mac and cheese. Sharing a glimpse of the preparations, Hinton posted on Instagram: “Thanksgiving prep is in full swing.”Dench’s Health Journey and Her Return to the TableDench previously revealed that her cancer was discovered unexpectedly during a CT scan. “I had a CT scan to check out my lungs. That's when a mass in my breast was detected,” she said. She added that her family supported her through her treatment, and that cancer does not run in her family.Reflecting on what she learned, she shared that she gained “a lot of life’s lessons through it all,” and emphasised that “just because you may be older, you still have a life to live.”A Friendship That Endured Loss, Distance and the PandemicOver the years, the two have grown close beyond their Thanksgiving tradition. During the pandemic, Hinton and his girlfriend Mikaela made sure Dench received home-cooked meals by dropping food at her doorstep.Dench also suffered a painful loss when her husband Lonnie died of COVID-19 in April 2020. That first Thanksgiving without him was emotional — Hinton, Mikaela, Dench’s daughter and grandson gathered for an early meal, placing a framed photo of Lonnie at the table to honour him.What This Unlikely Bond Means to ThemDench once said Hinton taught her how to stay open to unexpected relationships, sharing that he showed her how to be “open to friendships [even] when you think you have nothing in common when somebody.”Hinton, too, has expressed how special their relationship is, saying, “It’s amazing to have her as a friend and as my family,'' the Daily Mail report quoted.