Avery the Poke Kid dies at 12 after rare cancer battle

Avery the Poke Kid, a 12-year-old social media creator known for his Pokémon card content, has died following an eight-year battle with pancreatoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. He passed away on Friday, September 18, at 7 p.m. during what his parents believed would be a routine hospital visit.

Avery was diagnosed with the disease nearly eight years ago. During his long medical journey, which included multiple surgeries and radiation treatments, he underwent significant physical changes; a 2019 surgery resulted in the loss of his pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, duodenum, part of his liver, part of his stomach, and several feet of his small intestine.

His parents, Christian Garcia and Rebecca Rosa-Valentin, shared that although Avery had recently transitioned to hospice care, they expected to have several more months with him. The family spent his final moments together in a hospital rooftop garden. Avery used his social media presence to document his treatments and share his passion for collecting and opening Pokémon packs.