The Pokémon trading card community mourned the death of 12-year-old Avery The Poke Kid, who passed away in September 2026 after a seven-year battle with pancreatic cancer. A final video shared by Avery's parents, showing the young fan pulling a coveted Jirachi card from a Pokémon 30th Anniversary pack shortly before his death, resonated deeply within the community. The illustrator behind that specific Jirachi card, Akira Egawa, has now shared her emotional response to the heartbreaking moment.
Avery, known online as Avery The Poke Kid, was celebrated for his profound enthusiasm for Pokémon cards, even amidst his extensive medical treatments. He expressed that the joy derived from collecting cards came not from their rarity or value, but from the personal connection and cherished memories they represented. His online presence grew significantly after being featured in a video by @BeardDadCardz, where he received a generous donation of cards.
According to his parents, collecting Pokémon cards provided Avery with a source of hope during his challenging journey. His favorite card was a gold star Pikachu, its pose reminding him of Ash Ketchum's brave and resilient companion. Avery saw parallels between Pikachu's courage in facing adversity and his own personal struggles.
Avery passed away on September 18, 2026. His parents subsequently released a video of his final Pokémon card pack opening. To his delight, the pack contained a special illustration Jirachi card, created by the renowned TCG artist Akira Egawa. This significant pull, following closely after he had also obtained an Articuno art card from a previous pack, was seen as a particularly fortunate occurrence, even with the enhanced pull rates of the 30th Anniversary set.
The significance of this moment was amplified by Jirachi's lore: the Legendary Pokémon is said to awaken only once every thousand years, granting wishes for seven days before returning to slumber, unless awakened by a pure heart. Avery's final card pull, featuring this specific Pokémon, felt symbolic to many.
Akira Egawa, who has illustrated 173 Pokémon cards since 2019 and is known for her valuable artwork, expressed her deep emotion upon learning of Avery's story. "I want my art to bring happiness to people," Egawa wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "That’s one of the reasons I draw." She added, "I’m so deeply moved. I’m so glad I kept drawing. I’ve honestly been in tears ever since I saw this."
The sentiment was echoed by @BeardDadCardz, who shared his own poignant memories of Avery on Instagram. "I’ve seen you put yourself through so much pain for others and through all of it, you always had that smile," he wrote. "I promise I will do everything I can to keep that legacy alive. I’ll keep telling your story. I’ll keep spreading the kindness and joy you gave all of us. And every time I see Pikachu, I know I’ll think of you and that smile."