Wanda Dench, the grandma who went viral for a text mishap that invited a stranger to Thanksgiving, is allegedly battling the coronavirus.
In 2016, Dench attempted to text her grandson with an invite to Thanksgiving dinner. A stranger named Jamal Hinton accidentally received the text, and they have spent every Thanksgiving together since.
Sadly, Hinton made a gloomy announcement via Twitter on April 1. Hinton shared that Wanda and her husband Lonnie both have the coronavirus.
” I am so sad to announce that Wanda and Lonnie both have COVID-19 and that Lonnie is currently in the hospital fighting both COVID and Pneumonia please send words of love and encouragement their way,” he tweeted.
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Many on social media shared their disbelief over the tragic news.
“If you know the backstory of how their beautiful friendship came to be, you’d understand why so many of us are shook by this news. Sending lots of love & light to both families,” user @RissaRoyal wrote.
Twitter users shared how much the viral friendship meant to them, even stating that the wholesome annual event was an anticipated Thanksgiving favorite.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO. This is the only thing I look forward to on Thanksgiving,” another user said, along with crying emoji.
Some hoped it was a twisted April Fools Day joke.
“NOOOO DONT APRIL FOOLS JOKE ABOUT THIS,” another user shouted.
Others lamented that the news just added the cherry on an already unforgiving year.
“Ok this is where i draw the line,” user @excesstential stated.
Unfortunately, the news is likely not a prank. Well-wishers are continuing to send their thoughts and prayers in hopes that this Thanksgiving tradition can continue for yet another year.
“We are praying for their recovery! They have to get better because we want another Thanksgiving with them!!!” user @hottblnde shared.
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