and Isabella is his adopted daughter. Very good man, nice story.
Deidre Pujols's Biography:
“I knew it even before the doctors knew.” Deidre Pujols remembers. “Minutes after I gave birth to my daughter Isabella, the nurse showed her to me and I knew that she had Down Syndrome.”
The 21 year old single mother knew instantly that her life would never be the same. But she had no idea how right she was. Just weeks after Isabella’s birth some friends invited Deidre to a Salsa Club for a ‘girls night out’. It was there she saw Albert Pujols for the first time. “Albert never went to clubs. He did not drink, he didn’t even want people smoking around him.” Deidre recounts. “It was meant to be.”
On their first date, at the Cheese Cake Factory, Albert made a confession. “He told me that he had lied about his age, he told me he was 21, but he was only 18.” Deidre says “But, I had a confession of my own.”
It was then that Deidre told Albert that she had an infant daughter, and that she had Down Syndrome. “I found some literature about Down Syndrome in Spanish, so he could understand completely.” Half expecting never to hear from Pujols again, Deidre was amazed when Albert opened his heart to Isabella and embraced her as his own child.
The couple was married on January 1, 2000. Soon after the wedding, the Pujols family found themselves with the Cardinals farm team in Peoria, Illinois. “Albert was making $252.00 every two weeks, we were truly living on love!” Deidre laughs. “We ate a lot of Mac-n-Cheese in those days.”
“Then Albert got the call from The Cardinals in 2001... and everything went crazy!"
On May 5, 2005, Albert and Deidre launched a long-time dream: The Pujols Family Foundation, (www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org) which exists to honor God and strengthen families through their works, deeds and example. The Foundation is dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Down Syndrome and their families. In addition, the Foundation has a global vision, reaching out to impoverished families and children in the Dominican Republic, Albert’s native country.
Deidre will quickly tell you that God and her family are the primary focus of her life. ”But, to whom much is given, much is required.” Deidre quotes Luke, 12:48. “We have never forgotten our past or those who are in need. I believe we are put on this earth for a purpose. I believe God has blessed us with the unique blessings that we have for a specific reason. Faith, Family and Others is so much more than a mission statement to me, it is my calling.”
Deidre and Albert live in St. Louis with their three children.