Collecttopia

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For those who may be new here: my son Vincent is 14 and lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy—a terminal, progressive muscle disease. Our family is using the Pokémon hobby as a vehicle to fund an accessible future for him, and to prove that this space can carry real meaning beyond cardboard. This past weekend, Collectopia took place—an event shaped by care, intention, and a deep respect for the trading card community.

Jesse Peng created something special there: the TCG Hall of Fame. A space not just for cards or value, but for people. Stories. Impact.

Several well-known Pokémon enthusiasts were inducted, each for the mark they’ve left on the hobby.

Among them was Avery, known to many as The Poké Kid. Avery is 11 years old and lives with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Watching him be celebrated—truly seen—for who he is and what he represents stopped me in my tracks. It wasn’t about sympathy.

It was admiration. Strength. Joy in the face of the unimaginable.

Avery’s induction wasn’t symbolic; it was earned. And it lit a quiet fire in me that I’m still carrying.

We were meant to attend Collectopia.

Jesse even graciously offered us VIP passes so Vincent and I could be there.

We planned for months. We reached out to those involved. We tried to make the numbers work.

But despite every effort, logistical and financial constraints made the trip impossible this time.

That’s the hard, honest truth.

Sometimes the distance between where you are and where you’re meant to be is measured not in miles, but in realities you can’t wish away.

Still, I watched from afar—and I imagined a future.

I hope that one day, I’ll be pushing Vincent onto that same stage.

Not because of pity. Not because of what he lives with. But because of what he does. Because he showed that this hobby can be more than cardboard and price charts.

That it can be a vehicle for kindness, for accessibility, for building a brighter future.

That trading up can mean lifting others along the way.

Congratulations to all of the TCG Hall of Fame inductees, Class of 2026. You’ve set a standard worth reaching for.

I hope one day I can introduce Vincent to you—not as a fan looking up, but as a peer who helped shape what this hobby can become.