It’s not every day you turn 6 years old
When Della learned that her birthday was the same day St. Jude opened its doors — Feb. 4 — she wanted to make it special.
Della and her mom, Diana, will be making charms and bath bombs — as many as they can — to give away and to ask for donations to Della’s favorite charity: St. Jude.
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![St. Jude supporter Della and her mom](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/della-shares-birthday-with-st-jude/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_1220954872/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_row/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.jpg/1580250532843.jpg)
I’m really proud that (supporting St. Jude is) something she loves.
- Diana, Della's mom
'Who’s this girl?'
Diana, and her husband, Gino, have been giving to St. Jude for the past 10 years. Della was 4 when she began her support. She saw a St. Jude mailing with a picture of a little girl. Her curiosity sparked. “Della picked it up and said, ‘Who’s this girl? Tell me about her,’” her mom recalled.
Della’s parents told her the little girl’s name — which happened to be the same name as one of Della’s friends. They told her the little girl was at St. Jude — a hospital for children — trying to beat a terrible disease. Della’s sense of compassion kicked in. “She wanted to write that girl a letter. She wanted to draw that girl a picture,” Diana said.
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Della began donating the small allowance her mother would give her for little chores around the house to help the girls and boys of St. Jude.
![Supporter Della donates her allowance to St. Jude](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/della-shares-birthday-with-st-jude/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_220738929_co_1434423261/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.jpg/1580332492064.jpg)
Each month, Della would send in her coins in an envelope adorned with the child’s name and stickers. “She would send $1.35 or $2 or 80 cents sometimes,” her mom said.
She brought in her quarters and pennies and put them in an envelope. It was so cute because it was something she wanted to do.
- Diana, Della's mom
![St. Jude supporter Della and her mom](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/della-shares-birthday-with-st-jude/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_1220954872_c/par-1/cnt_column_copy/par-1/cnt_row/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.jpg/1580332638105.jpg)
![Supporter Della writes letters to St. Jude patients](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/della-shares-birthday-with-st-jude/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_220738929_co_1664496325/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_row/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.png/1580274317614.png)
Della now gets her own mail from St. Jude, which includes return labels, stickers and notepads that come just for her.
Birthday surprise
As a supporter, she also receives her own calendar. When the 2020 calendar arrived, Della did as many 5-year-olds would: she looked for her birthday. And in the date box of Feb. 4, she read: St. Jude opened (1962).
“She couldn’t believe it was the same day,” Diana said. After learning that she and St. Jude shared a birthday, Della’s connection with the hospital became more personal.
![St. Jude supporter Della](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/della-shares-birthday-with-st-jude/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image_copy.img.16.medium.jpg/1580272398943.jpg)
![St. Jude supporter Della and her mom](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/della-shares-birthday-with-st-jude/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_1220954872_c_299348527/par-1/cnt_column_copy/par-1/cnt_row/par-1/cnt_column/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.jpg/1580270442813.jpg)
We’ve (donated) for 10 years … and the fact that she’s picked it up as something she cares about on her own has made me really proud.
- Diana, Della's mom