The Jirachi 30th anniversary story

Quick answer: Avery the Poké Kid, a 12-year-old Pokémon creator from Everett, Washington, died in September 2026 after more than seven years with stage 4 pancreatoblastoma. His family shared his final pack opening, and the last card he pulled was the Jirachi ex Special Illustration Rare (155/128) from Pokémon’s 30th Celebration set, drawn by Akira Egawa.

At a glance

Who was Avery the Poké Kid?

Avery was 12 and lived in Everett, Washington. Online he was Avery the Poké Kid: a cheerful young collector who filmed himself opening Pokémon packs and shared the joy of every pull with anyone who wanted to watch.

For more than seven years he lived with stage 4 pancreatoblastoma, a rare cancer of the pancreas that affects children. Shortly before he died, the Pokémon community came together to help him reach one of his dreams: passing 100,000 subscribers on YouTube and earning his Silver Play Button.

Avery died in September 2026, days after his family said he had moved into hospice care.

Avery’s final pack

On 22 September, his parents shared a video called “Avery’s final pack”. In it he opens a Pokémon 30th Celebration box with an Eevee promo card, a Pikachu coin and two booster packs from the anniversary set.

His first pack gave him an Articuno Illustration Rare. Before opening the second, he asked for a little “last pack magic”.

The very last card in that pack was the Jirachi Special Illustration Rare. He covered his mouth in disbelief, then smiled, and signed off the way he always did: “See you next time, trainers.”

Why Jirachi, the Wish Pokémon, means so much

In the Pokémon world, Jirachi is the Wish Pokémon. Its story says it sleeps for a thousand years and wakes for only seven days, and that while it’s awake it can make a wish come true.

That’s why the video spread so far. A boy who had been brave for so long asked for some last pack magic, and the card that came out was the one that grants wishes.

The artist’s message

The Jirachi card was drawn by Akira Egawa, one of the Pokémon TCG’s best-loved illustrators. After seeing the video, Egawa wrote on X: “I’m so deeply moved. I’m so glad I kept drawing. I’ve honestly been in tears ever since I saw this.”

And in a second 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.”

The card: Jirachi ex Special Illustration Rare 155/128

Avery’s card is Jirachi ex, card 155/128 in the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration set: a Special Illustration Rare, one of the 33 secret cards numbered above 128, illustrated by Akira Egawa. People now look it up as “Avery Jirachi”.

After the video spread, some sellers listed the card at silly prices, and collectors were quick to call it out. Avery’s story was never about a price tag. It was about the joy of opening a pack.

“See you next time, Trainer”

When they shared the news, Avery’s parents signed off with his own words: “See you next time, Trainer.” His comments are still full of messages from collectors all over the world, old fans and new, saying what his videos meant to them.

So if you open a 30th Celebration pack this month and a Jirachi looks back at you, you’ll know whose card it is.

Reported by Galar Alerts. Images: Pokémon.