A teenager competing in this month’s Commonwealth Games has praised a surgeon at St George’s Hospital for saving her sporting career, after her dream was threatened by a devastating injury.
Judo champion Frema Agyei feared her competing days were over, after a torn ligament led to further issues.
The 17-year-old was just 16 when she sustained the injury, which left her unable to perform without extreme pain.
The A-level student, from Colliers Wood in south London, first realised something was wrong when she felt a searing pain in her left wrist during practice.
She said: “As part of my judo, I have to do body conditioning which includes pull-ups and push-ups – but I was in so much pain, it was impossible.
“In turn, that affected my performance as I was in pain with the most basic moves, so I just couldn’t do my judo.”
Frema was treated by Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon Shamim Umarji and her team at St George’s in Tooting, south west London.
Frema was told that she had a torn ligament, resulting in a ganglion cyst forming in her wrist – which is a thick, jelly-like fluid that develops along the joints or tendons.
To treat the cyst, Frema was given an injection to drain the fluid and a week later had an ultrasound-guided sterile injection, where ultrasound imaging was used to guide a needle into her wrist.
A few months later, she was able to return to competing and went on to qualify for Glasgow 2026, representing Ghana – where her father is from – in the under 57kg category.
Frema said: “Miss Umarji saved my sporting career, without a doubt. If it wasn’t for her, I probably would have struggled in competitions.
“There are no words to describe how grateful I am to her.”
“She explained the mechanism of my wrist, what had happened and why I was in pain with certain movements. She asked the right questions and listened to me, which made such a difference.
“I really wanted to avoid surgery and she offered a way of treating my injury that could avoid it – and it worked.
“Without her, I wouldn’t be completing in the Commonwealth Games and I am eternally grateful to her.”
As well as treating Frema, Shami also arranged for her to shadow her team on work experience, to help her choose between two career paths – becoming a doctor or a dentist.
Frema’s father Kofi echoed his daughter’s praise for the care Frema received.
“We need more people in the NHS like Miss Umarji,” he said.
“She is amazing and can turn water into wine in my eyes. She listened to us – she was like the man from Del Monte and said ‘yes’ – we wouldn’t be going to Glasgow if it wasn’t for her.
“Miss Umarji has made such a big impact in our lives.”
Frema has shared her story as she urges people to celebrate their health heroes at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) at the third ‘gesh CARE Awards’.
All NHS colleagues are recognised – from the clinical frontline to essential support colleagues, including porters, cleaners and volunteers.
Frema said: “These awards are a great way for the public to vote for dedicated NHS workers like Miss Umarji, who have gone the extra mile to help their patients.”
Kofi added: “This is a great way to thank anyone who has done as much for them as Miss Umarji has for us.”
Kate Slemeck, Managing Director for St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Frema’s story is just one example of the expert dedicated and compassionate care our teams provide every day, which is why we’re encouraging people to show their gratitude by nominating them for an award – it may seem like a small gesture, but it really does mean the world to them.
“Frema is an inspiration and we wish her all the success at the Commonwealth Games.”
The celebrations are fully funded by St George’s Hospital Charity, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity and local businesses.
You can vote for a colleague or a team via our website until 19 July with the winners being announced in September.
Katy Vaughan, CEO of St George’s Hospital Charity, said: “Every day we see the extraordinary, life-changing difference our NHS colleagues make to patients and families like Frema’s.
“Supporting and celebrating the people who care for our community is at the heart of what we do at St George’s Hospital Charity, which is why we’re proud to sponsor the gesh CARE Awards once again.
“The awards are an opportunity to recognise the remarkable people behind our NHS and celebrate the dedication and excellence that make stories like Frema’s possible.”
