CF, Unseen: A New Perspective for CF Awareness Month

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness (CFA) Month begins today—and at Emily’s Entourage (EE), we’re inviting you to look closer.

Because when it comes to cystic fibrosis (CF), what you see is only part of the story.

CF is an invisible disease. The realities that shape life with CF—daily treatments, the physical toll, the mental load, the uncertainty, the fear—are often hidden from view. But just because these experiences aren’t always visible doesn’t make them any less real.

While the development of lifesaving mutation-targeted therapies has transformed life for nearly 90% of people with CF, the final 10% that don’t benefit from these therapies is still waiting. Still living on borrowed time. Still contending with the same devastating disease that CF has always been. Still working their hardest to hold onto hope.

Each year, during CF Awareness Month in May, we rally around our biggest and boldest goal: to #CrossOutCF—for 100% of the CF community, once and for all.

This month, we’re reimagining what that means.

We’re crossing out assumptions.
We’re crossing out surface-level perceptions.
We’re crossing out what the world thinks it knows about CF—
and revealing what lies behind the scenes. 

You might see a smile.
But you don’t see the four hours of daily treatments behind it.

You might see someone living what looks like their best life.
But you don’t see the hard work and perseverance it takes just to show up.

You might see a breakthrough headline.
But you don’t see the years of research that made it possible.

We’re pulling back the curtain—sharing the raw, human realities of life with CF and elevating voices that too often go unheard. 

A Month of Real Stories, Real Voices, and Real Life with CF

Throughout May, we’ll spotlight the experiences that shape everyday life with CF to reveal what often goes unseen:

Stories from individuals navigating CF in under-resourced parts of the world.
Stories from those living with complex comorbidities that complicate an already challenging disease.
Stories from people who have undergone transplant—twice.
Stories from the final 10%, who continue to hold onto hope while science works to catch up.

These voices reflect the depth, resilience, and diversity of the CF community—and remind us that while CF may be invisible, its impact is anything but.

How You Can Get Involved

This month is about awareness, connection, and community. Every story shared, every perspective amplified, and every conversation sparked helps reveal the realities of life with CF—and brings us closer to a future where there are livesaving therapies for 100% of the CF community and no one is left behind.

• Stay Connected
  Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X throughout May as we spotlight different perspectives from across the CF community—from lived experiences and personal stories to groundbreaking science and the pathways toward new therapies. Don’t forget to sign up for our EE Insider newsetter!
• Join the Conversation
  Your voice matters. Share your CF story—or help amplify others—using #CrossOutCF and #SpeakUpCF. Help us shine a light on what life with CF really looks like—and why lifesaving breakthroughs can’t wait. Your likes, your comments, your shares matter!! 
• Take Action
  Donate, advocate, spread the word. Every action brings critical visibility to the experiences that too often remain unseen and gets us closer to the ultimate finish line. 

Because when we reveal the full picture of CF, we strengthen our community and move closer to a future where we #CrossOutCF for everyone ASAP. That future can’t start soon enough!

Thank You to Our CF Awareness Month Sponsors

We want to thank our generous 2026 Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month campaign sponsors. Your support helps us elevate the voices of the CF community and accelerate lifesaving breakthroughs for the final 10%.