Texas school shooting: Eliahna Garcia’s family says Disney sent custom ‘Encanto’ dress for her

It is one of the hardest things a parent can do — to bury their own child, especially when a young life is taken by a gunman in school, a place they should be safe.

But 19 families in Uvalde, Texas have had to say goodbye to their children too soon.

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Eliahna Garcia was one of the victims of the May 24 school shooting at Robb Elementary. She was getting ready to celebrate her 10th birthday when she died.

Eliahna’s father frequently shared in the days after the tragedy that his fourth-grade daughter was a big fan of the Walt Disney film “Encanto,” My San Antonio reported.

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When the company heard how much Eliahna loved the movie, Eliahna’s parents, Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo, said Disney’s costume team created a replica of the dress worn by the animated character Isabella in Eliahna’s size, WOAI reported.

Eliahna’s parents posted a video on Facebook of them unwrapping the gift, according to My San Antonio.

Disney also sent the family a swatch of the fabric used and flowers like the ones that are attached to the dress as it “may bring some comfort to heal onto,” Disney wrote on the note accompanying the gift, according to Garcia and Lugo.

The costume team also added a butterfly to the dress.

>>Read: Texas elementary school shooting: Here’s how to help

“We gave Ellie a butterfly and wanted all of her sisters to have one too. Fly until you find your way toward tomorrow,” Disney wrote to the family, according to WOAI.

Butterflies were featured in “Encanto,” on the family’s magical candle and on the shirt and skirt worn by the main character, Mirabelle. Butterflies are sometimes considered a symbol of the soul for many cultures since ancient times, according to Baylor University. They can also symbolize rebirth or immortality, according to The Washington Post.

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