From Waves to Wellness: An Olympic Swimmer’s Journey of Healing at MD Anderson amidst Acoustic Neuroma

Clark Burckle Jr., presently 36 years of age, is well-acquainted with challenges. He represented the United States in the 2012 Olympic Games, taking part in the 200-meter breaststroke event. Since then, he has maintained a flourishing entrepreneurial career while embracing an active lifestyle.

However, in 2022, he began experiencing health issues. “I felt extreme tiredness, my motivation to exercise vanished, and I was overwhelmed and fatigued,” he remembers. A persistent ringing in his left ear – known as tinnitus – was also a troubling sign, along with difficulties hearing from that ear.

Clark attempted to disregard the issue, wishing for his symptoms to fade away. “I never visit doctors,” he thought to himself. “I’ll simply take some ibuprofen.”

Nevertheless, his fiancée – now his spouse – Mallory Comerford, who is also an Olympic swimmer, ultimately persuaded him to seek medical advice. He consulted a local expert in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Although the physical examination yielded no significant concerns, Clark decided to undergo an MRI as a precaution.

Unexpected acoustic neuroma diagnosis triggers action

Shortly before Thanksgiving, Clark was en route to a family gathering when he received a call from his physician. “He said, ‘I think you have a brain tumor!’”

At first, Clark believed it was a joke. However, his doctor was serious. It turned out Clark had a vestibular schwannoma on the left side of his head – a specific type of acoustic neuroma. While not classified as cancerous, these growths can lead to complications with hearing and equilibrium.

Clark and his family consulted a local neurosurgeon to discuss their possible options.

Even though the surgeon possessed impressive credentials, Clark felt no personal rapport. “I wanted to find someone I could trust, not just through conversation but also based on their qualifications,” he reflected.

MD Anderson provides expertise and connection

Clark and his family explored another nearby hospital, yet they remained unsatisfied. Consequently, they traveled to MD Anderson for an additional opinion. There, they met Shaan Raza, M.D., a neurosurgeon focusing on skull base tumors.

Immediately, Clark sensed a connection. “It felt like I was conversing with someone I had known for a long time,” Clark shares. “He is very composed, yet at the same time, extremely knowledgeable and capable.” After exiting the room, Mallory remarked, “He’s the one.”

“I felt precisely the same way,” Clark recalls.

MD Anderson’s organization and communication also impressed him. “The entire experience at MD Anderson was vastly improved,” he states. “The interactions via MyChart and the staff were exceptional. I was clear on where to go and what actions to take.”

Raza explained to Clark that he could either opt for surgical removal of the tumor or continue observation, though it was inclined to keep growing. Surgery carried certain risks: some individuals with acoustic neuroma might completely lose their hearing even after the tumor is excised.

Despite the potential risks, Clark opted for the surgical procedure. “For me, it was crucial to remove the tumor from my head, return to the lifestyle I had before, and move forward with a fresh start,” he asserts.

With plans for their wedding in October 2023, Clark wanted to ensure the surgery was completed in advance of their celebration. Consequently, he scheduled the operation with Raza and head and neck surgeon Marc-Elie Nader, M.D. for March 2023, ensuring ample recovery time prior to the wedding.

MD Anderson surgeons excise tumor while retaining hearing

Up until the day of the operation, Clark had remained relatively untroubled. He had faced high stakes in the past, competing in significant events including the Olympics. Nevertheless, on the morning of the surgery, anxiety set in. He recalls that Raza and his team communicated effectively and helped him feel at ease. “I felt assured that he had conducted this surgery before and that I would have a favorable outcome,” Clark remembers.

Raza successfully excised the entire tumor. Additional good news followed: Raza and Nader managed to preserve Clark’s vestibular and cochlear nerves, which meant his hearing remained intact. “That was my greatest concern,” Clark says. “Given the size of the tumor, there was a possibility I could lose my hearing.”

Clark spent a week recuperating in the hospital. Initially, recovery was challenging: he experienced dizziness and had difficulty moving his feet. He even developed shingles on the right side of his neck, while the incision was positioned behind his left ear. “It made it tough to sleep; I always wanted to get out of bed, feeling confined,” Clark recalls.

Mallory chose to spend the nights in a chair by his bedside. “I’d awaken and see her, and it helped me feel relaxed,” Clark notes.

During his hospital stay, Clark worked with an MD Anderson physical therapist. Walking and stair training aided in enhancing his balance. For the initial few weeks post-surgery, he used a walker for safety, but he progressed quickly. “I was astonished at how swiftly I navigated the recovery process and how well the scar healed,” Clark admits.

Returning to an active lifestyle

Following his hospital discharge, Clark and his family spent a few additional weeks in Houston for follow-up consultations at MD Anderson. Two weeks post-surgery, he was able to walk and enjoy local attractions, such as the Houston Zoo. “I transitioned from barely being able to lift my feet and feeling disoriented to riding a bike a month and a half later,” he explains. “I was eager to be active as quickly as possible.”

Currently, Clark still experiences dizziness when moving quickly and turning his head, yet it’s manageable. Physical therapy for patients like Clark includes metronome exercises, where one synchronizes movements to a beat to enhance coordination and balance. However, Clark opted to incorporate swimming into his rehabilitation.

“When performing freestyle, you breathe to the side and then have to return your head to the center,” he illustrates. “Initially, that was disorienting for me. But I felt it was more demanding than sitting in a chair doing metronome exercises, and I believe it has accelerated my recovery.”

Clark discovered that playing golf also assisted his balance. He even recently hiked with his family at Zion National Park.

Clark’s hearing remains about the same as it was prior to surgery – approximately 80% in his left ear and no issues in his right ear. In noisy environments, like at a packed sporting event, Clark may struggle to hear a specific individual. However, that does not deter him from engaging in his favorite hobbies. “Some days the only noticeable difference is a scar on my head,” he laughs.

Thankfulness for “the wonderful people” at MD Anderson

Reflecting on his journey, Clark feels remarkably fortunate that the brain tumor was benign. “Circumstances could have turned out very differently,” he observes.

His experiences at MD Anderson deepened his appreciation for the strength of patients and caregivers. “Witnessing patients undergoing cancer treatment and the individuals assisting them reminded me to work diligently, seize opportunities, engage, and give back to others,” he asserts.

What advice would Clark offer to another patient facing a brain tumor? “Place your trust in a remarkable doctor and their team. Locate the good people who possess the answers and rely on them.”

That’s exactly the kind of support Clark encountered at MD Anderson. “I was fortunate to receive that opportunity,” he states.

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