A bit of brightness returned to a little girl's life Sunday.

Nevaeh Rosales, 11, was hiding when her mother, Soña Trucks, 40, was killed shortly before midnight May 22, just minutes before her birthday. The day after the crime, someone broke into the home and stole all of Nevaeh's birthday gifts.

Abilene Police Officer Katie Snell, 24, responded to both crimes and felt the need to do something for Nevaeh.

'She lost her mother within 15 minutes of it being her birthday,' Snell said. 'It was such a tragic event, and then on top of it that somebody went to the house and took items, including her Xbox. That was just unacceptable.'

After alerting the Abilene Police Officers Association, an effort was undertaken to give Nevaeh a new birthday party, complete with gifts, to negate at least one of the acts perpetrated upon her family. On Sunday, she and her family gathered at PrimeTime Entertainment for a party that also included firefighters, police officers with their families and other well-wishers.

'I think words don't express it, honestly,' said Danielle Rosales, Nevaeh's aunt. 'It's unbelievable they were able to reach out and do this for her.'

Nevaeh received a new Xbox One from PrimeTime, but before she opened anything else she wanted to race her new friend Officer Snell on the go-kart track.

The little girl and her four sisters will be moving in with her aunt and her grandmother. Danielle said they were going to hold a benefit June 17 in Nelson Park.

'My sister left an autistic child behind, a child with cerebral palsy, Nevaeh, and two older daughters,' Danielle said.

It was gratifying for Snell to see the turnout Sunday.

'I'm very impressed by all of us being able to come together and allow her to be a kid just for a day,' she said. 'There really are some good people in the world, it's moments like this as an officer that are rewarding to see.'