Christian Garcia, the father of late content creator Avery “The Poke Kid” Garcia-Valentin, has issued a public plea to The Pokémon Company to immortalize his son within the Trading Card Game (TCG). In a video statement released on November 6, 2026, Garcia requested that the company create a special honorary card so that fans and the community can “chase” Avery in future booster packs.
The request comes less than two months after Avery passed away on September 18, 2026, at the age of 12. Avery had spent nearly eight years battling pancreatoblastoma, a rare form of pancreatic cancer first diagnosed when he was four years old. Despite his illness, he became a beloved figure in the Pokémon community, reaching the 100,000-subscriber milestone on YouTube and receiving his Silver Play Button shortly before his death.
The Final Pull and 30th Anniversary Context
The timing of Avery’s passing coincided with major milestones for the franchise. In his final recorded video, Avery pulled a Jirachi Special Illustration Rare (SIR) from the 2026 Pokémon 30th Anniversary collection. The pull was particularly poignant for fans, as Jirachi is known in Pokémon lore as the “Wish Pokémon.”
In his video address, Christian Garcia expressed a desire for Avery’s legacy to be integrated into the game he loved. He suggested that seeing Avery on an official card would allow his spirit to live on through the hobby that defined his final years. While The Pokémon Company has previously acknowledged community members, they have not yet issued an official response to the Garcia family’s specific request as of November 8, 2026.
Community Response and Channel Future
The plea has sparked a polarized reaction across social media platforms. On YouTube and Instagram, the community has largely rallied behind the family, with many fans tagging official Pokémon accounts to support the memorial card. Conversely, some users on X (formerly Twitter) have raised concerns regarding the request, with some labeling the move as a potential exploitation of the child’s image following his death.
According to Mundo America, Avery’s journey was marked by a long-standing resilience that drew thousands of followers to his channel. The Garcia family has indicated they intend to maintain Avery’s social media presence. Plans for future content include continuing his Pokémon-related videos and introducing cooking segments, which was another of Avery’s interests.