Jirachi Card Illustrator Moved: Avery The Poke Kid and a Final, Meaningful Pull

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) community has lost one of its most inspiring young figures. Avery The Poke Kid, a 12-year-old content creator who spent the last seven years of his life battling pancreatic cancer, died on 18 September 2026. The news spread quickly after his parents posted an emotional video showing Avery opening a Pokémon 30th Anniversary pack and pulling a rare Jirachi card—shortly before he took his last breath.

Avery's story was not just about a card-collecting hobby. In a TCG industry increasingly dominated by the hunt for high-value cards, Avery asserted the opposite. In a video from early 2026, he said the most important thing was not owning the best or most expensive card, but a card that was truly loved and would be remembered for a lifetime. That attitude drew attention to him after he appeared on the @BeardDadCardz channel, where the collector showered him with cards.

According to his parents, collecting Pokémon cards gave Avery hope after enduring grueling hospital treatments. His favorite card was Pikachu gold star, whose arms-crossed pose reminded him of Ash Ketchum's Pikachu. "Ash's Pikachu is brave, faces challenges, fights gods... he has courage... that's how I see myself," Avery said in one post.

Avery's final pack-opening video shows his spontaneous reaction: "No way!" when the Jirachi card appeared. Earlier, he had also pulled an Articuno art card from his second-to-last pack. Although the pull rate for rare cards in the 30th Anniversary edition is higher than usual, getting two art cards back-to-back is still considered rare. For many fans, the combination of that moment and Avery's background made it feel like destiny—especially since Jirachi in Pokémon stories is known as a legendary creature awakened only by a voice from a pure heart.

"I'm so moved. I'm glad I kept drawing. Honestly, I've been crying since I saw this," Akira Egawa wrote on X, responding to Avery's story.

Egawa, the illustrator behind the Jirachi card, expressed his emotion through social media. He admitted that one reason he pursued card illustration was the desire to bring happiness to others. The statement affirmed that behind a TCG industry often viewed through the lens of business and investment, there is a strong emotional dimension between artists, collectors, and the story behind each card.

Reactions also came from BeardDadCardz, the figure who had helped Avery get many cards. In an Instagram post, he stated his commitment to preserving Avery's legacy. "I promise I will do everything I can to keep that legacy alive. I will keep telling your story. And every time I see Pikachu, I will remember you and your smile," he wrote.

For Indonesia, Avery's story is relevant not only as sad news but also as a reflection of how fan communities—including in the country—are maturing in how they interpret their hobby. Indonesia's Pokémon card market itself continues to grow, with local communities actively holding tournaments and trading cards. Yet behind sales figures and soaring card prices, stories like Avery's remind us that the value of a collection is not always measured in rupiah. This can be a reflection for creative industry players and communities in Indonesia not to forget the social and emotional aspects of the hobby they pursue.

Going forward, Avery's legacy may live on through stories shared by the community and the work of illustrators like Egawa. The question is, will the global TCG industry—and the community in Indonesia—be able to keep that spirit alive amid growing commercial pressure?