“I have to do a lot to be able to live with cystic fibrosis. The fact that the disease is not visible on my face makes it even more difficult,” says Nele. As a child, she was told that she would never grow up because of her illness. And many Belgians received the same diagnosis as Nele. It is estimated that around 1,400 Belgians live with cystic fibrosis. It causes lung infections and a chronic cough, among other things.