While the majority of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) survive well into adulthood, some do so against the odds. The severity of their illness, their psychosocial environment, or their failure to adhere to treatment are such that survival could not have been predicted. It appears that some patients are more resilient than others. Some specific components of resilience include comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. These are defined and case examples provided to illustrate their significance.