Artist Behind Pokémon 30th Anniversary Jirachi SIR Card Gives Tearful Response to Late Influencer's Heart-Wrenching Final Pack Opening

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’ve honestly been in tears ever since I saw this,” she wrote in one post.

In another message, responding to the news of Avery’s death, she reflected on her art: “I want my art to bring happiness to people.” 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.

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.