Christian Garcia, the father of the late Avery “The Poke Kid” Garcia-Valentin, has released his first public video statement since his son’s death, issuing a direct plea to The Pokémon Company to honor the young creator’s legacy. In a TikTok video posted on November 6, 2026, Garcia requested that Avery be officially immortalized within the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG).
Avery, a beloved figure in the Pokémon community known for his infectious enthusiasm during card openings, passed away on September 18, 2026, at the age of 12. He had fought pancreatoblastoma, a rare form of pancreatic cancer, for nearly eight years. Shortly before his passing, Avery reached a major milestone by surpassing 100,000 subscribers on YouTube and was named an honorary inductee into the TCG Hall of Fame.
The centerpiece of the family’s plea involves Avery’s final viral moment: a video where he pulled a Jirachi Special Illustration Rare from the 30th Anniversary Celebration set. The emotional footage of Avery reacting to the rare card became a symbol of his passion for the hobby. Garcia is now asking The Pokémon Company to recognize this moment, perhaps through an official honorary card or tribute that reflects Avery’s impact on the community.
The family’s statement also addressed a darker side of the card-collecting market. Following Avery’s death, IGN Southeast Asia reported that scalpers began using the 12-year-old’s passing to artificially inflate the market price of the Jirachi Special Illustration Rare. Resellers reportedly mentioned Avery’s name in listings to justify higher prices, a move the family described as contrary to Avery’s generous spirit. According to Kotaku, the family expressed they were “aghast” at the attempts to profit from the tragedy.
Transitioning Avery’s Legacy
While Avery was best known for his Pokémon content, his father shared that the young creator had other aspirations. Before his illness progressed, Avery dreamed of becoming a professional chef. To honor this, the family plans to transition his social media accounts to include cooking content alongside his Pokémon archives, fulfilling his wish to share his love of food with his audience.
The Pokémon community has rallied around the request for an official tribute, with many fans tagging the company’s official accounts to support Garcia’s plea. The artist of the Jirachi card, Akira Egawa, also publicly acknowledged Avery’s final video, expressing how moved she was by the joy her work brought to him in his final days. As of early November, The Pokémon Company has not issued a formal response regarding the request for an honorary card.