About The Glaucomfleckens
Our Story of Medicine, Humor, Crisis, and Advocacy
Here's Where It All Started
Over 20 Years Of Scrappy Resiliency
While you might know Will as that wisecracking ophthalmologist from the internet, or Kristin as that also-wisecracking co-survivor advocate, there’s a lot more to our story
Will's Journey
Comedian, Doctor, Survivor
Will was, of course, deeply shaken by what had happened. The fear of another health crisis would always loom. But he coped with this new horror story the way he had with all the rest: humor and connection. Things got better, and putting his energy into creating silly social media content helped bring him back down to earth.
He’d begun writing for GomerBlog in 2015, had been posting on Twitter since 2016. Following the cardiac arrest – in the midst of the pandemic – he turned to TikTok to connect with other doctors experiencing perhaps the most devastating health crisis in living memory.
Everyone desperately needed a laugh. He decided to be the one to provide it.
Kristin’s Journey
From Co-Survivor to Advocate
Things weren’t so straightforward for Kristin. At the time, there was very little language that accurately described her experience. Despite the relief she felt about Will’s survival, there was a fog that wouldn’t lift – something she would later understand was dissociative PTSD. But, at the same time, she was angry about the way certain moments unfolded. That amidst the chaos of the darkest, most terrifying moment of her life, she’d been forgotten.
But when she came across the term “co-survivor”, everything changed. She had something to hold onto – and a way to communicate the reality that our healthcare system is underequipped to support co-survivors in the way they need.
A natural storyteller, she began to write about her experience. It was a powerful coping mechanism that allowed her to channel these heavy emotions into something beautiful, and it wasn’t long before she realized that other people might benefit, too. Both online and away from it, she began to share her story, advocate for others like her, and build a co-survivor community of her own.
Now We're Here!
As the Glaucomfleckens, we transform our clip show of crappy life and healthcare experiences into laughter, education, and advocacy. Together, we’ve tried to turn pain into something beautiful, hopeful, and affirming.
Will still creates medical-themed comedy shorts for an audience of over 6 million across social media. Kristin teaches healthcare workers about the patient and family experience and advocates for caregivers and “co-survivors,” CPR and AED use, sudden cardiac arrest preparedness, and young adult & adolescent cancer care.
Together, we’re building a real values-based platform for entertainment and educational media that brings everyone who experiences the healthcare system together, and inspires real change.
