Cancer Fundraiser

Dr. Greg Volk received a diagnosis of a marginal zone lymphoma on Saturday, February 26. Along with the cancer, he has been diagnosed with severe anemia and the two diagnoses interact to bring debilitating fatigue and shortness of breath. Not only do the illnesses impact his ability to work, but the appointments, treatments, and subsequent effects prevent him from working a complete schedule. As he works independently, his ability to cover expenses and costs is dependent on his ability to be at his job. Depending on his physical response to the chemotherapy as well as the fatigue from the combined diagnoses, his capacity to work will continue to be limited in the future. The particular cancer is not curable, but can be kept in check with repeated rounds of chemotherapy for the rest of his life.

Along with these diagnoses comes a very compromised immune system which will prevent him from attending summer events with his family in addition to a limited work schedule as he will have to restrict his exposure to others in order to avoid further complications. Because of the loss of income resulting from this extensive course of treatment and incapacity, Greg will need the help and support of others for a time. That is the focus of this GoFundMe request.

Greg was born in Minnesota and moved to North Dakota when he was three years old. He and his family lived on the land at Sweetwater Lake owned by his paternal grandfather since the mid-twentieth century. Greg’s classmates from DLHS class of 1981 will no doubt fondly remember the two-day outdoor senior class party on the Volk property in the spring of 1981. At the class of 81’s fortieth reunion last summer there were several fond remembrances of the times spent dancing and throwing people in the lake. Long-time residents of Devils Lake will remember seeing Greg waiting to take tickets at the Lake Theater downtown and managing the nightly operations at the Starlite drive-in theatre.

After graduation Greg went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree, spent some time studying in Germany, completed Master’s coursework in Wisconsin, and completed his doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Denver. He completed his internship in South Dakota through a consortium with the VA and one of only two inpatient psychiatric facilities for Native Americans in the US. Subsequently to completing his internship, he worked for the Indian Health Service in Wolf Point, MT and then returned to the area to run the mental health program for the Indian Health Service in Fort Totten. His return home was precipitated by a cancer diagnosis similar to his own in his grandmother who raised him. He came to help with her care so that she could remain at home until her death. Following several years with the program in Fort Totten, Greg opened a private practice in Devils Lake and has worked there for over 20 years. Over the years he has provided court testimony as an expert witness in the field of mental health, completed assessments and evaluations to assist with disability determination and diagnostic clarification, as well as providing psychotherapy for patients with PTSD, chronic pain, criminal behaviors, sexual offenses and other complex issues, often taking on clients who have struggled to find compassion and caring professional help.

As a high school student, Greg began a longtime connection to the sport of curling, earning a letter in the sport. As an adult, he became an umpire in the sport of curling in 1998, serving at several world championships and numerous national championships as well as having the great honor of being selected to serve as an umpire for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Greg has been active in Tae Kwon Do over the years and yoga. He achieved the level of brown belt in Tae Kwon Do several years ago and has been a yoga instructor for ten years.

Greg has three children: daughter Siri, age 11, enjoys horseback riding and cheer. Middle son Caber, age 14, participates in wrestling and track, and firstborn Aiden, age 16, plays football, basketball and runs track. Both boys earned black belts in Tae Kwon Do in their younger years. His active children would like many more years of activity with their father and the success of ongoing treatment will hopefully ensure that.

Greg recently told friends on Facebook that he wants to be the first one in his family to survive cancer. Friends and family know the valiant struggle his mother Judy waged with cancer for a number of years. Prior to that his grandmother Edith Wittkop succumbed to cancer and his father, Walter Volk, of cardiac arrest. The opportunity to help Greg in this fight exists through this GoFundMe page. As stated in the opening, the battle has just begun, but the medical bills are already mounting. This will be an opportunity to help out someone who has been an active part of his community, volunteering to help children, and making a difference in the lives of his patients who have told him that he needs to get well because his work is so important and helps many people. Here is the chance for many people to help Greg in return. Thank you.