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Meet Jacoby: The six-year-old who signs along to daily coronavirus press briefings

Jacoby was given just a 5% chance to live at birth, now she gets excited seeing interpreters on TV every day.

CLEVELAND — Jacoby looks forward to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's daily coronavirus press briefings, and especially the American Sign Language interpreters like Marla Berkowitz, who help deliver the messages.

Jacoby's is mostly non-verbal, and likes to sign along while Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton give Ohioans the latest on the coronavirus. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the 6-year-old has come a very long way, after being given just a 5% chance at making as NICU patient. 

You may have seen her videos of her signing along with interpreters. And they saw them too. Wednesday, the Facebook page Opportunites for Ohioans with Disabilities shared a video thanking people for their support of ASL interpreters. But the video also had a special message for Jacoby.

Thank you for signing with us, Jacoby

🤟🏽 The ASL interpreters at Governor Mike DeWine’s COVID-19 daily briefings are so grateful for the outpouring of support they have received from all of you. We have a special video for one of their fans, Jacoby. #InThisTogetherOhio

Posted by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities on Thursday, April 9, 2020

The video says:
"The American Sign Language interpreters at Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's COVID-19 daily briefings are so grateful for the outpouring of support they have received from all of you. We have a special video for one of their fans...

"Hi Jacoby," Berkowitz signed. "Thank you so much for signing with me every day. Sending love to you and your family."

The Cleveland Clinic has even more on Jacoby's story here.

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