The artist behind a Pokémon 30th Anniversary Jirachi SIR card has responded after beloved influencer Avery the Poké Kid pulled the card in his last pack opening before his death from pancreatic cancer.
Avery the Poké Kid was just 12 years old when he died of pancreatic cancer on September 19, 2026. To celebrate his life, the young Pokémon influencer’s parents posted a video showing him opening his very last set of trading card packs from the brand’s recent 30th Anniversary drop.
On the very last pull of his second and final pack, Avery pulled a Jirachi SIR, a major win that caused him to shout in excitement. The heartwarming moment went viral within the Pokémon community and beyond, leaving viewers misty-eyed and sorrowful that such a bright and cheerful voice in the space had been tragically lost at such a young age.
Even the artist of the card, who lives halfway across the globe from Avery’s home in Everett, Washington, saw his viral pull. Speaking on Twitter/X, prolific Pokémon trading card artist Akira Egawa said she was heavily impacted by the video and couldn’t stop crying after watching it.
“I’m so deeply moved. I’m so glad I kept drawing. I’ve honestly been in tears ever since I saw this,” she wrote in one post.
“‘I want my art to bring happiness to people.’ That’s one of the reasons I draw. I’m so glad I put that wish into this piece,” she wrote in another, as a response to the news of Avery’s death.
“I want my art to bring happiness to people.”
That’s one of the reasons I draw.
I’m so glad I put that wish into this piece. https://t.co/i6wW0tYHBh— 江川あきら▽AKIRA EGAWA (@rev_akira) September 23, 2026
I’m so deeply moved. I’m so glad I kept drawing. I’ve honestly been in tears ever since I saw this.
— 江川あきら▽AKIRA EGAWA (@rev_akira) September 23, 2026
Fans were equally moved by her reaction, with many pointing out the poetic lore behind Jirachi in the Pokémon universe.
Jirachi is a Legendary Steel and Psychic Type Pokémon that spends most of its life in hibernation. It only wakes up for seven days every thousand years or so, and is only awakened if you “sing to it in a voice of purity.”
Avery had battled with stage four pancreatoblastoma for over seven years. He became a beloved figure within the Pokémon community during his lifetime, sharing his love for the series’ trading card game to the tune of 313,000 avid followers.
A GoFundMe has been started to help Avery’s family cover medical costs, which has nearly met its goal of $130,000.
Avery’s impact on the Pokémon community cannot be understated; his Instagram account is full of supportive comments from longtime fans and newer viewers alike, who are offering their sympathies and sharing their favorite memories of the young personality.
Image Credits: The Pokémon Company / Akira Egawa
Virginia Glaze
News Editor
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
