WAXHAW, N.C. — Lilly Knowles just got the opportunity of a lifetime.
The 13-year-old will be a guest star in NBC's hit show "New Amsterdam" next month.
In the episode, Knowles portrays a patient with cystic fibrosis (CF), a condition she has in real life.
"CF is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and pancreas," Knowles explained. "The mucus in my body is thick and sticky and that causes me to get more infections in my lungs. I have to sit out some things because my body just can't do it."
Cystic fibrosis is something Knowles has battled her whole life. So when the show put out a casting call for a 13-year-old girl who has CF, she applied.
"I was like, ok, let's give it a shot it would look good on a resume, maybe," she laughed. "Then they called and said I actually got the part!"
Knowles just spent two weeks in New York shooting the episode.
"I was really nervous to meet [the cast members], I mean they're like famous people" she smiled. "But they were super nice and supportive."
We won't give too much away about the upcoming episode, but in it, Knowles portrays her everyday reality.
"The fact that they're giving someone who actually has CF an opportunity to play that character is a huge deal," she said. "I was really just excited they were finally doing something to raise more awareness of it."
Knowles is also preparing to participate in a 5k to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. To learn more or donate, click here.
The "New Amsterdam" episode is scheduled to air April 16 on NBC Charlotte.