AXTELL, Texas — For Katie Mills and her family, Christmas has always been their biggest celebration of the year—a time to come together, share stories and honor their loved ones.

"Christmas is our favorite holiday," Mills said. "It's like the biggest one we do. We go all out every year for Christmas."

But this holiday season, something precious is missing. Among the ornaments that traditionally adorned the family's tree was one that held special significance: a keepsake honoring Gabrielle, Mills' older sister who died at just three weeks old, more than two decades ago.

"Gabrielle was my sister," Mills explained. "She was an infant. She died at 3 weeks in the hospital. She was a little fighter and she fought really hard until she passed away."

Though Mills never got to meet Gabrielle, s

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