Dr. Angel Pulido, MD

In 2017, I was an inpatient at St. David’s Rehab while recovering from ADEM (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis)—a rare neurological condition that causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. I was already experiencing serious symptoms: visual disturbances, cognitive issues, and brain fog. Then one morning, I woke up suddenly unable to walk. Dr. Pulido, the neurologist on site, evaluated me and told me I was “fine.” He dismissed my symptoms and left without ordering any further testing. Thankfully, my family and care team pushed for a second opinion. A different neurologist was brought in, who ordered an MRI. It revealed worsening brain lesions and new spinal cord lesions—clear signs that the disease was actively progressing. This was a serious and dangerous turning point in my illness, not something to brush off. I later developed right-side paralysis as the inflammation continued to spread. That delay in care could have been catastrophic. To this day, I live with the consequences of what was missed. Patients with complex neurological conditions should be met with urgency, compassion, and action—not dismissal. St. David’s Rehab and Dr. Pulido failed me at a critical moment, and people deserve to know that.