Avery the Poke Kid, a 12-year-old social media influencer known for his vibrant online presence, passed away on Friday, September 18, at 7 PM. His parents, Christian Garcia and Rebecca Rosa-Valentin, announced his death in an Instagram post, stating that he “passed away suddenly.” Avery had been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis that highlighted his courageous fight against the disease in the public eye.
Avery was diagnosed with pancreatoblastoma, a rare malignant tumor of the pancreas that is diagnosed most often in children under 10, nearly eight years ago. On September 17, a day before his death, Avery’s parents announced that he had entered hospice care for the third time.
“When we realized our time with Avery was coming to an end, we brought him to one of his favorite places at the hospital, the rooftop garden,” they continued. We told him how much we loved him. We told him how proud we were of him. “As we begin to grieve and somehow learn how to live without Avery, we ask that you please give our family some privacy, time, and space to simply be together,” the post concluded. They wrote on social media that they were “choosing to be together as a family and cherish every moment we’re given.”
“We held our beautiful boy in our arms as a family. We kissed him. And we stayed wrapped around him as he took his last breath. “Thank you for loving our little boy. Thank you for praying for him, cheering for him, watching his videos and giving him a community that brought him so much happiness,” they wrote. “Being Avery’s parents has been the greatest privilege of our lives. We would give anything for one more day. We love you forever, Avery. Following his diagnosis, he underwent several surgeries and radiation treatments, and even entered hospice on two other occasions.
