Gill Castle BEM
Change is Life
About Me
In 2011 I was left with catastrophic injuries during the birth of my son, including a missed 4th degree tear, recto-vaginal fistula (RVF) and perineal abcess. I was fitted with a permanent colostomy (stoma) and later lost my job as a police officer due to both my injuries and poor mental health (including ptsd).
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I have managed to turn my life around, and have written articles to help women who have exprienced a traumatic childbirth and those with ostomies. I am passionate about giving a voice to the taboo topics of childbirth injuries and stomas.
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I am the CEO Founder of Chameleon Buddies, a registered charity which supports people adapting to change after childbirth injury or stoma surgery. We work predominantly in Kenya at the Gynocare & Fistula Hospital in Eldoret, but we also run peer support groups for ostomates in Northumberland.
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I am on the Council for MASIC, an advocate for the Birth Trauma Association, and in December 2025 I was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to those with ostomies.
I am a proud Patron of A Bear Named Buttony.
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In 2023 I became the first person in the world to swim the English Channel solo with a stoma, for which I hold the Guinness World Record. In 2025 I led a group of 17 women with ostomies or traumatic birth histories up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Chameleon Buddies. The incredible film of the trek, Cloudline : Where Women Rise., is available to download.
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My memoir, Against the Current, is due for publication in June 2027 with McNidder & Grace.
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First bikini outing, summer solstice 2020. Euphoric.
Never let your doubts stop you trying anything – just give it a go and don’t look back!
Gill Castle
The Mummy MOT 9th September 2020
Tweeted 3.2.22
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" Asked a patient with severe birth trauma to attend @GILLIANCASTLE3 webinar for us this week, she came in smiling today. Said she now feels there is hope of recovery and it is the first time in three months she has felt positive at all. Thank you x"
Pelvic Roar
I think you’re so brave doing this and doing it warts and all! Hopefully this will give reassurance and confidence to others to get out there and just do it stoma and all. So what if things go abit awry sometimes you’ve shown that it’s possible to live a ‘normal’ life. Your blog is hilarious and uplifting and I’m sure will inspire others to ‘just do it’ I look forward to more escapades. Good luck!
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Helen Marie
It's great to read about positivity with a stoma. It's a pain, and it's a worry, and nothing changes that. And it gets people down, which is understandable. But it does not stop the majority of people getting a lot out of life. Positive role models like you really, really help. Keep telling your story! And all of the best people are open water swimmers....
Steve W
Coping with a stoma can be so difficult & there’s times when it sort of takes over who you are & what you think you can achieve...that’s why I love this page. Find your warts & all posts inspirational, funny, informative & your positivity just shines through
Karen S
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