What would you do if you saw a young fan pull your card in his very last pack opening? For Pokémon artist Akira Egawa, that moment hit harder than any shiny pull ever could.
Avery the Poké Kid, a beloved 12-year-old Pokémon influencer, passed away from pancreatic cancer on September 19, 2026. To honor his memory, his parents shared a video of him opening his final set of trading card packs from the Pokémon 30th Anniversary drop. On the very last pull of his second pack, Avery revealed a Jirachi SIR—a massive win that made him shout with joy.
The clip quickly went viral across the Pokémon community. Fans everywhere were misty-eyed, celebrating Avery's infectious energy while mourning a bright light gone far too soon. But the story didn't end there. Halfway across the globe, the artist who illustrated that Jirachi card saw the video too.
Akira Egawa, a prolific Pokémon TCG artist, took to Twitter/X to share her emotional response. "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 a follow-up post, she added, "'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."
Fans were quick to point out the poetic connection: Jirachi is a Legendary Steel/Psychic Pokémon that sleeps for a thousand years, only waking for seven days when someone sings to it in a voice of purity. For many, Avery's pure joy in that final moment felt like a real-life wish granted.
Avery had battled stage four pancreatoblastoma for over seven years. Despite his illness, he became a cherished figure in the Pokémon community, sharing his love for the TCG with 313,000 followers. His Instagram is now filled with tributes from longtime fans and new viewers alike, all sharing their favorite memories of the young star.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Avery's family with medical costs, and it's nearly reached its $130,000 goal. It's a testament to how many lives this 12-year-old touched.
What do you think about this touching story? Will you be pulling any Jirachi cards in honor of Avery? Let us know in the comments.
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