Renowned Pokémon Artist Reacts to Emotional TCG Pack Opening

The Pokémon trading card community was in mourning in late September 2026 following the passing of Avery The Poke Kid, a 12-year-old who had bravely battled pancreatic cancer for seven years. The news spread rapidly across social media, especially after Avery’s parents shared a touching video of him pulling a sought-after Jirachi card from a Pokémon 30th Anniversary pack just before he passed.

In the days following Avery’s death, the illustrator of that Jirachi card expressed her feelings about the young fan’s final card pull. Despite the toll chemotherapy took on him, Avery was celebrated for his infectious enthusiasm and passion for Pokémon cards. “It’s not about having the best cards, or the most expensive ones,” he stated in an early 2026 video. “It’s about having the cards that you truly love and will cherish for the rest of your life.” This perspective helped him gain popularity on social media after being featured in a video where a vendor generously gifted him cards.

Avery’s parents noted that collecting Pokémon cards provided him with hope during difficult hospital visits and his long fight against cancer. His favorite card was a gold star Pikachu, which reminded him of Ash Ketchum’s iconic companion. “Ash’s Pikachu is brave, it takes challenges, it fights against gods … it has courage … that’s how I see myself,” Avery shared.

Avery passed away on September 18, as confirmed by a memorial post from his parents. Shortly after, they released a video of him opening his last Pokémon card pack, which contained a special-illustration Jirachi card by renowned TCG illustrator Akira Egawa. “No way,” he exclaimed, thrilled by the pull, especially since his previous pack had also featured an Articuno art card. Even with the 30th Anniversary’s higher pull rates, getting two art cards in a row was quite rare.

The Pokémon community has been deeply affected by the significance of Avery’s Jirachi pull. Jirachi is a Legendary Pokémon that awakens only once every thousand years, granting wishes for seven days before returning to slumber. The lore surrounding Jirachi makes Avery’s final card pull feel almost fated.

Akira Egawa has also responded to this poignant story. Known for her stunning Pokémon art cards that command high prices, Egawa has illustrated 173 Pokémon cards since 2019. “I want my art to bring happiness to people,” she wrote on social media, reflecting on Avery’s impact. “That’s one of the reasons I draw.”

“I’m so deeply moved,” she added in another post. “I’m so glad I kept drawing. I’ve honestly been in tears ever since I saw this.”

As the community shares their memories of Avery, the heartfelt response from the vendor who featured him has particularly resonated. “I’ve seen you put yourself through so much pain for others and through all of it, you always had that smile,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I promise I will do everything I can to keep that legacy alive,” he continued. “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.”