Gill Castle - AKA Stoma Chameleon, #Ostomate after childbirth, #POSITIVITY after trauma, #SoloChannelSwim2023. Showing folks what’s possible after trauma.

<div>Gill in her own words:</div> <div> </div> <div>“My name is Gill Castle, and in October 2011 I gave birth to my son, Sam, at 34 weeks gestation, a traumatic birth which resulted in a permanent stoma (colostomy). Over the following years I have set out to prove to myself, and others, what is achievable with a stoma, as initially I was presented with a lot of “no, you can’t do that with one of those”. I also wanted to overcome the trauma of the birth, which resulted in the loss of my job as a police officer, and which forced me to create a new identity for myself. </div> <div> </div> <div>On my website I signpost people to all the amazing organisations out there who can help, like the Birth Trauma Association, the Masic Foundation, Purple Wings, Samaritans, Colostomy UK to name but a few. </div> <div> </div> <div>Am I superwoman? Absolutely 110% not. Lots of women suffer like me and come out the other side ok. But when you are experiencing such a load of shite there is often no one who has made it out onto the other side who is shouting about the good life that is possible. </div> <div> </div> <div>I want to be that person. I want to show that girl who was living through hell that it can turn out ok in the end. </div> <div>How will I do it? Simply by my actions. I will gladly, happily, discuss people’s trauma with them, and discuss my own, in PM, I understand that talking and discussing helps. But I want to just SHOW you by everything I do, every smile I have, that you can be happy, you can do things. The same for people with stomas.</div> <div> </div> <div>But, this is also true for ANYONE. I want to sweep people along with my enthusiasm for life and encourage you all to just get OUT THERE and TRY something. Anything! We all have our own desires and goals. So many people say to me that they would “love” to do something “but I’m too scared” . </div> <div> </div> <div>WAIT UP! Have you actually tried it? How do you know then? </div> <div> </div> <div>I understand trauma, I understand pain, I understand fear. But