Christel Truglia was born in Schotmarr [recte Schötmar], Germany,[2] a quarter of Bad Salzuflen in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, during the years before World War II.
Years later, when other countries began bombing Europe, one was dropped on the house next door to Christel's home.
Christel worked for an insurance company after graduating from high school, she also joined a choir at a local church.
In 1996, Christel founded the Truglia Thumbelina Fund in efforts of helping children in Stamford.
[6] She also established a toy closet in 2005 called "David's Treasure Tree Toy Closet"[7] (in memory of a boy named David who died of leukemia at a young age) for children who visit Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut.