Call Me Coinin

By Sandy Prantl

Sandy Prantl, an occupational and craniosacral therapist takes us on her journey of healing from childhood abuse that led to the development of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An ordinary trip to the library set events in motion that changed the course of her life. Sandy heard about a wolf named Orca who had sustained a spinal cord injury that had left him partially paralyzed. Orca was a captive born, socialized wolf living at Wolf Park in Indiana. Orca found Sandy while seeking help for his own recovery. She heard his call for help and began performing craniosacral therapy and myofascial release on him. As Orca gained strength, so did Sandy. Orca’s story has been told around the world, and has inspired thousands of people to persist in the expression of their Divine purpose regardless of the challenges life has presented them. Sandy also worked with other wolves in the facility where Orca was a resident. Her work was expanded to include the resident foxes and coyotes there as well. Sandy has taught her healing methods and offered her services in other facilities that have socialized wolves. This memoir chronicles Orca and Sandy’s relationship and how they brought healing to each other. This process led to work with other animals and eventually to an understanding of PTSD recovery and interspecies healing. In addition to Orca’s story, the memoirs include wolf case summaries, a rudimentary discussion of PTSD and recovery; and the dogs in Sandy’s life who have served as teachers and companions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandy Prantl
• Release date: Aug 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370378784

Sandy Prantl

Sandy Prantl is an occupational and craniosacral therapist living in Cincinnati, OH. She has a small private practice wherein she works with people experiencing chronic pain, children with developmental challenges, and infants with feeding problems. She is passionate about healing and the environment. Her work expanded to include animals under veterinary permission and supervision. Sandy enjoys traveling with her daughter, playing clarinet in a community ensemble and creating glass art.

Book preview

To Orca: the wolf that changed everything for me. Orca called. I answered. He asked me to do things that I did not know I was capable of.

To Dr. John E. Upledger: craniosacral therapy is the cornerstone of my healing and my life’s work. I give thanks for your teachings every day. Many thousands of beings, of all walks of human and animal life owe you a debt that cannot be repaid.

To Dr. Klinghammer: Thank you for your dedication to wolves, and for the role you played in wolf research and education, and for sharing wolves with the public. Thank you for saying yes and allowing me to come work with your wolves. Thank you for your kind words during our last visit. Dr. Klinghammer could be described as a character. He was a professor at Purdue University, a wolf biologist and retired military man. He is known for his contributions to the fields of canid ethology and behavior. Though there is science that backs up the theory of craniosacral therapy, understanding the efficacy of the work can be a challenge to a scientific mind. On one hand, it looks like the practitioner isn’t doing anything, and on the other, wolves demonstrated healing and improved functioning as a result of the interventions. Dr. Klinghammer typically made some sort of disparaging remark about my work when we saw each other. He allowed me to work with the wolves because they liked it, and if nothing else it was environmental enrichment. Dr. Klinghammer had health challenges and experienced chronic pain. He periodically requested a treatment session. I of course, obliged. At the end of every session except for the last one he commented, Well, I am not cured. (Hear this in your head with a thick German accent to get the full effect.) I was packing up to leave the park one weekend, when Pat Goodman received a phone call from Dr. Klinghammer requesting that I give him a treatment. I stopped by his house, bracing myself for his usual crusty way of greeting me. I was taken aback when he began his session by saying I want to tell you something. I think you are beautiful. You have a beautiful heart and a beautiful soul. I thank you for what you are doing for the wolves, and for me. I thank you.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Part 1

First Things First- Introduction

Preface

January’s Promise

A Wolf Named Orca

One Thing Leads to Another

Libraries Are Dangerous Places

A Little Slow On The Uptake

Coming Home?

Orca

Part 2

Deneb

Ursa

Alyeska

Echo

Eclipse

Ylva

Fiona

Ayla

Wotan

Bicho

Dharma

Renki

Norway

Puppies!

Part 3

PTSD and Recovery

Molly

Layla

Afterword

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

There are dozens of people and animals who have in one way or another supported the wolf work and the writing of this book. I first wish to thank Orca for calling me and Dr. John E. Upledger for developing craniosacral therapy. Thanks also go to Dr.Erich Klinghammer for his role in wolf education and research, Kate Bast for encouraging me to visit a wolf sanctuary, and to Amy Beaupre, Pat Goodman, Monty Sloan, Gale Motter, Dana Dreznek, Karen Davis, Ryan Talbot and Peggy Klinghammer for your partnership in the work. A special thank you goes to Jeanette Ryman, as you have always been one of my greatest supporters from the beginning. Tom O’Dowd has contributed hundreds of hours of video tape of the treatment sessions. These videos are invaluable in the work that has evolved into teaching materials for wolves in other facilities. Additionally, there have been numerous volunteers and interns that have participated in treatment sessions over the years. I’m sorry that I don’t know your names. Laura Frank Hale connected Dorthe Rasmussen and me. In addition to being a kindred spirit and friend, Dorthe has served as my marketing director. Dorthe is responsible for bringing me to Norway to work with wolves there, and for connecting me with another wolf facility that led to a workshop and treatment there. I appreciate Alicia Panisiak and Monty Sloan for allowing me to stay at their home when I traveled to Wolf Park and for the wonderful meals they have shared with me. Chad Reichle has provided friendship and company on our trips to Wolf Park. Gratitude goes to Monty Sloan, Jessica Addams and Shari Jardina for photographs. Many thanks to Janelle McCord, Cynthia Allen, Blaire Richter, and Nancy Westphal for their continuous support of me, my work and for encouraging me to write this book. I thank Chris Shriver for allowing me to adopt Layla. Although this book is dedicated to the wolf work, I appreciate Kimber Hendrix for her partnership in working with the foxes. I am grateful for Terri Noftsger’s communication with Molly. Ramona Sierra and Mary Lee Brighton provided the opportunity to work with mustangs in 2001. Learning about the finely tuned reticular activating systems in the wild horses was a fundamental foundational piece of information that contributed to the success of the wolf work.

Last, but not least, I think Karen Novak, my consultant for this book. Her input and encouragement assisted me in bringing this book to fruition.

I extend a special thank you to Monty Sloan for the pictures. Thanks to him, I have thousands of photographs that capture the essence of this incredible journey, which I can now, share with you. The photos, unless otherwise noted are courtesy of Monty Sloan.

The photo of Monty with Reudi is courtesy of Shari Jardina www.wolfmountainingages.com

Foreword

In the summer of 2003, my beloved canine and Spirit companion, Reno P.A.W.S. (Peace, Adventure, Wisdom, and Spirit), transitioned from his physical time with me. Reno was a husky-wolf mix with just enough wolf to make him interesting, per Pat Goodman, primary animal caretaker at Wolf Park. My Great Uncle Walt shared my affinity for animals, nature, and love of the outdoors. He took me to my first visit to Wolf Park. He knew my love of wolves and wanted to cheer me. Between Reno’s passing and our visit to Wolf Park, I had a very clear dream: Reno and I were hiking in the woods. We had arrived at a very clear spot on the horizon. As we stopped for a rest, Reno’s ears were in full perk as if he heard something of significance. I turned to scan the woods and saw a wolf. The wolf’s appearance was bold and unforgettable, a memory deep in my brain.

Wolf Park, located in Battle Ground, Indiana, is open to the public. Educational programs and tours of the park are given throughout their open hours.

Uncle Walt and I watched a demonstration in the main enclosure. I wondered what it would take to be a volunteer like those on the other side of the fence. I knew it would be something I would have to earn and I knew there was something I could offer. Was it my experience with children that could bring gifts to programs at the park? My heart felt healing in this place. After the demonstration, we continued with a tour of the park. As we approached one of the smaller enclosures, I