From Code Blue to Comic Relief: Dr. and Lady Glaucomflecken’s Story of CPR, Survivorship, and Humor

We’ve all listened to survivor stories that inspired us and maybe even brought a few tears. But how about breaking out into laughter? Dr. Will Flanary is an ophthalmologist who uses his eye for humor in his side gig as an internet comedian. Kristin Flanary works in marketing and communications and is a nationally recognized advocate for CPR and survivorship. Together, the husband-and-wife duo creates popular medical skits on Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube under the stage names Dr. and Lady Glaucomflecken and cohost the medical comedy podcast “Knock Knock, Hi! With the Glaucomfleckens.”

On May 11, 2020, their lives would change forever. That night, Kristin woke up to Will making unusual sounds in his sleep. It was different from snoring, she recalled, and she couldn’t wake him. She called 9-1-1, and the dispatcher recognized that Will was in sudden cardiac arrest. The dispatcher calmly guided Kristin through 10 minutes of CPR until a paramedic crew arrived. With COVID still raging, the responders were in full PPE. They continued CPR and shocked Will five times. Following transport, Flanary was admitted to the ICU. After one day of sedation, he awoke with full cognitive function and no clue what had happened.

Since his recovery, Will has used his unique brand of humor as a coping mechanism, and he and Kristin have become popular on the medical speaking circuit. Kristin received an EMS Cardiac Arrest Save Challenge Coin (2020), the Citizen CPR Foundation’s 40 Under 40 award (2021), and the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Champion Award (2022). At CASSummit ‘23 in San Diego, hear Will and Kristin (and Dr. and Lady Glaucomflecken) tell their remarkable story with passion, grace, appreciation—and laughter.