A Daughter and Mother on Staying Positive Through Cancer

Guideposts Video: Inspiring True Stories

Egli and Natalia: Hi Guideposts.

ECS: I’m Egli Colón Stephens.

NH: And I’m Natalia Harris, and I’m her daughter.

ECS: And I’m her proud mom [laughs].

NH: So in April of 2008 when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma bone cancer, which is a rare form of cancer at a very young age, and they found a tumor the size of a lime.

ECS: Lime.

NH: In my right leg, in my femur.

ECS: Distal femur.

NH: Top. I underwent many cycles of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries to replace my leg, to fix it, basically.

Then I was completely recovered. I was cancer free. I was in the modeling industry. I was working, I was finishing school, and then 10 years later, I got a complete surprise and was diagnosed again with renal medullary carcinoma.

They said that there was a tumor in my right kidney and it was affecting me, and I needed to have it removed as soon as possible. I had the surgery very afraid and just unaware of how my life would change or what would be the circumstances and just completely upset that I was in this situation again, after surviving as a young child—and I’m currently conquering again.

They urged that I start chemotherapy right away and it didn’t set…it didn’t set right with my spirit. We went the natural route and I’ve completely taken my health under my control and have not done chemotherapy. I’m detoxifying my body with natural supplements and herbs and I meditate and I…

ECS: Pray.

NH: And I pray and I’m close to my faith and I’ve completely radically changed my diet and my lifestyle. My faith has helped me push through every day and see life in a positive manner and put things in perspective and see the good in the bad and the light in the darkness.

ECS: We have grateful hearts. I mean, by nature, we are positive, happy people and even when she was first diagnosed almost 11 years ago, there was not one day that went by that we didn’t find something to be grateful for.

We are regenerating now and are trusting and holding onto our faith and taking it one day at time. One day at a time. And living our lives the way we always have lived—with joy, with gratitude. With intention, with purpose.

And Natalia definitely has known her purpose since she was a young child and every day she walks in her purpose. You know, she loves life to the fullest and God is not done with her yet.

Egli and Natalia: He’s just getting started.

ECS: And that we know for sure [Laughs]. The best is yet to come.