Avery the Poke Kid update: Heartbreaking GoFundMe reveals 12-year-old lost ‘pancreas, gallbladder, spleen’ before death
A GoFundMe launched for Avery the Poke Kid, a 12-year-old social media star with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, who died on Friday, September 18, is in focus after his death. His parents, Christian Garcia and Rebecca Rosa-Valentin, shared in an Instagram post that their son “passed away suddenly” at 7 pm that day.
Avery the Poke Kid update: Heartbreaking GoFundMe reveals 12-year-old lost ‘pancreas, gallbladder, spleen’ before death (averythepokekid/Instagram)Avery was known for his Pokémon card content. He was diagnosed with pancreatoblastoma, a rare malignant tumor of the pancreas that is diagnosed most often in children under 10, nearly eight years ago. Following his diagnosis, he underwent several surgeries and radiation treatments, and even entered hospice on two other occasions.
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Over the past year, Avery began sharing photos and videos on social media under the name “Avery the Poke Kid,” and documented his treatments and opened new Pokémon packs.
Avery’s parents started the GoFundMe while he was alive, to help cover the costs of his treatment.
The parents said that Avery was “diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatoblastoma, which is a very rare and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer that affects fewer than 1 in 25 million people.” They also explained that during a 2019 surgery, he “lost his pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, duodenum, half of his liver, part of his stomach, and several feet of his small intestines.”
“Avery loves Pokémon. Opening packs, collecting cards, and creating content around it is something that genuinely makes him happy. It gives him something to look forward to, especially on days when he’s at the hospital or not feeling well,” the page said.
It added, “He also uses what he loves to give back. When he’s at the hospital, he brings Pokémon cards to share with other kids. He opens packs with them, gives cards away, and tries to give them the same excitement and distraction that helps him. He’s always thinking about other kids, even while going through all of this himself.”
On September 17, a day before his death, Avery’s parents announced that he had entered hospice care for the third time. They wrote on social media that they were “choosing to be together as a family and cherish every moment we’re given.”
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More
