Riley Kovalcik, a deaf girl, has written a note to Seattle Seahawks running back Derrick Coleman, calling him her inspiration.
Riley, 9, was watching the NFC Championship game over the weekend with her twin sister Erin, who is also hearing impaired, and her father Steve when they saw a Duracell ad detailing Coleman’s journey to becoming the first legally deaf offensive player in the NFL.
The sisters became so inspired by the story that Riley penned a note to Coleman, telling him: “I know how you feel--I also have hearing aids--just try your best.”
“I have faif in you,” she said, congratulating him on his good job during the January 19 win.
(Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
She then listed the things that she and Coleman have in common, including wearing hearing aids and loving sports.
Jake Kovalcik told the Daily Mail that he took a picture of the note and tweeted it at Coleman.
The Seahawks retweeted the letter and Kovalcik began receiving interest from media outlets around the world.
“Riley and Erin just sat there with my phone, watching, and they were like ”oh my god dad, you went viral,” he said, laughing.
His motivation was just to show the player what kind of impact he was having.
“I just wanted to show him what he had done,” Kovalcik said. “He inspired my daughters but it’s a great thing he’s doing not just for hearing impaired kids or kids with other disabilities, he’s showing all kids that if you work hard and you dedicate yourself whatever deficiencies you have, you can be great. I wanted to thank him.”
Friends Read Free