Growing up with an aunt as a physiotherapist made me have a sentimental weakness and a high level of adulation for all women in this field. The incredible depth of biological knowledge required to be a physiotherapist is only one facet of what makes a good one. Physiotherapy is truly about being invested in the betterment and wellbeing of others, which undoubtedly requires selflessness and a more selfless woman you will not find than Trinidadian physiotherapist Raejean Small.
“I think being selfless is extremely important because our entire profession is based on giving our patients/clients their best quality of life. When a person comes to me and I hear their story and how much their disability has kept them back, all I can think about is where they are at, what their goals are and how I’m going to get them there.”
The ability to be compassionate and putting the needs of others before one’s self aren’t qualities that fall from the sky. Small’s ability to do this, first of all, starts with the example of femininity that was placed before her by her mother Cheryl. Being raised by a woman who took tremendous pride in supporting and guiding her daughter through every grand or minuscule detail of life sensitized Small to the power of compassion. “I always saw my mother put those she cared about before herself, whether it be family, friends, or colleagues. I remember when she was diagnosed with stage 4 renal failure and had to have dialysis twice a week for 3 hours on each day. She refused to leave her job, she insisted she was well enough to work. She would go for dialysis in the early morning so she could still make it to work.”
Small represents the convivial vibrancy of the authentic Trinidadian women and she once famously described physiotherapy as a combination of determination and fun. As a registered physiotherapist, her utterly charming personality has brought an air of being relatable, to a profession that is immensely biological. The aspects of physiotherapy that Small focuses on include Ortho, Neuro, and Cardio Pulmonary. “We provide a service to develop, maintain or restore a person’s maximum movement. We just want you to function at your maximum ability. We don’t want anything inhibiting your movement”,Small stated.
In an era of social media, where so many women use the platform as a conduit for body glorification and superficiality, Small’s presence on Instagram is a refreshing departure from that dynamic. Small uses her Instagram accounts to enlighten and educate persons about different aspects of physiotherapy that often go understated. Small, who attended the University of The West Indies in Jamaica said: “When I returned home from school and everyone kept asking me what I studied, I would have to explain over and over, which was new to me because in Jamaica most people knew what we did. So, I thought I should do something about it and since social media is so easily accessible especially to my peers, I thought it would be the best way to get information out to the public.”
Small’s physiotherapy profile includes Orthopedic, Neurological, Cardiopulmonary and Women’s Health. “This is the range of patients I see, as well as pediatric. ‘Movement Specialist’ is what they would call us because in the medical field our profession is the only one that specializes in movement.” We playfully inquired about what Small perceives as the biggest misconception about physiotherapists and without hesitation, she said: “Ahhh that all we do is massage! Yes that’s one of the many techniques we are taught is massage, and we would use it when necessary, however it is definitely not all we do! “
There is a companionable allure about Small’s demeanor that is electrifying and her passion for the performing arts reflects this duly. Every Caribbean parent or grandparent has at least once made the famous assertion, “show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are.” It’s no surprise that Raejean reveres the friendships she has with other dynamic women such as Alyssa Branker and the incomparable Marie-Ange Bovell.
These women are all connected by one passion, which is their unending love for dance as a means of creative expression. “I danced with La Dans Caribe from 2005-2013. I have certificates in Ballet, Tap, and Modern dance from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Then I started dancing with a hip hop group Blackout from 2013-2015 and then with the Rex Nettleford Dance Society from 2013-2014. I then joined UWI Mona Dance Society from 2016-2019 and became a Lady of the Nation Dancer for Soca Artiste Ricardo Drue”
Having danced for Ricardo Drue, Small has had the privilege of experiencing carnival from different cultural perspectives throughout the region, but there is still nothing to her like Trini carnival. In closing we asked her how she has coped with the absence of carnival.
“Honestly, I thought, ok, it would be another working day – no biggie. However, when the 15th and 16th of Feb rolled around, I was in my feelings on both days. And seeing my peers posting so many memories on social media didn’t make it any better. On the bright side, I did get a chance to dive into the cultural aspects of our carnival by attending different productions showcasing the traditional side of mas, which was quite exciting and differed from the usual fetes and parade of the bands.”
