COMING SOON
When Natalia passed away at 24, Dr. Egli Colón Stephens lost her only child, the center of her world—yet she refused to be silenced or diminished by grief.
In Beyond Grief, Egli continues her conversation with Natalia, sharing a faith tested by fire, the questions that still linger in her soul, and a brave—almost defiant—decision to keep living as an act of love and devotion to her daughter.
As a teenager, Natalia overcame cancer and went on to become a professional model and body-positivity advocate, living with rare strength and purpose. Years later, after a second diagnosis of a rare and aggressive cancer, she faced life with unwavering courage, leaving a lasting mark on all who knew her.
Since Natalia’s passing, Egli has transformed their story of resilience into a message of strength and hope. She was interviewed twice by Oprah Winfrey for Oprah Daily and has shared her story through Guideposts, SHARE Cancer Support, the Dominican Writer’s Conference, podcasts, and international speaking engagements. Her emotional response to seeing Natalia featured in a Delta Air Lines campaign after her passing was covered by Today, Newsweek, Yahoo, Blavity, and TheGrio, among others.
Beyond Grief, Egli’s memoir interwoven with excerpts from Natalia, is an invitation to move through grief without denying it, to transform absence into guidance, and love into legacy—with a deeply moving foreword by Elaine Féliz.
Listen Along
Music has the power to bring us back to moments, people, and emotions that remain in our hearts. Throughout these pages, you'll find songs that have accompanied our journey and are part of this story. Listen to this playlist on Spotify or YouTube and enhance your reading experience.
Egli Colón Stephens
Dr. Egli Colón Stephens is an educator, author, speaker, and advocate whose work is rooted in education, social justice, resilience, and faith. With more than 25 years in education, she has also spoken on human rights, cancer advocacy, grief, migration, and the experiences of immigrant communities. Her writing and story have been featured across numerous national and international platforms, including Oprah Daily, NBC News Latino, and Guideposts Magazine. Above all, she considers raising her daughter, Natalia, her greatest accomplishment and continues to honor Natalia’s life and legacy through her writing, service, and work.
BOOK REVIEWS
In Beyond Grief: Living as Natalia Would Have Wanted, Egli gives us a narrative that not only tells her story but opens up a space for deep connection for all who have gone through pain, emptiness, and rebuilding.
~Elaine Féliz~
Beyond Grief is your literary masterpiece. I am so incredibly proud of you. I know this wasn’t just about writing a book or getting it published. It is so much more than that. It is love, it is healing, and it is honoring.
~Patzy Valenzuela~
I read it quickly—which is a testament to Egli’s writing and the story she is sharing. I’m amazed at how she is able to continue this loving relationship with her daughter, Natalia, from beyond. Egli shows so many of us that it’s possible and beautiful to continue loving. The chapters were strong, captivating, and memorable, and left me knowing there is so much more to come from her.
~Carolina Pichardo~
It’s been an honor to have had the opportunity to read this memoir during the production process, with all its nuances, accompanied by a basic guide for parents and those around them… a work of art! I know many will feel deeply connected to it!
~Tere Carrillo~
Beyond Grief is much more than the story of a mother coping with the loss of her daughter; it is a journey through goodbyes, pain, love, and resilience. Through its pages, Egli reminds us that, even after so many losses, life can give us back beautiful moments of love and reasons to be grateful. A deeply human and moving book that teaches us that grief does not end with love: love finds a new way to live.
~MSA~