Christian “Patch” Patchell is a cartoonist born and raised in Philadelphia. Over the years, he worked on countless illustrations, comics, cartoon character designs, and greeting card designs. Aside from his freelance work, Patchell also works as a teacher.
“I have been teaching at UArts, my alma mater, for almost seven years,” said Patch. “I was recently promoted to Senior Lecturer. Currently, I instruct the freshmen and juniors in Illustration. I also teach in their Saturday and Summer Art Programs. I have taught in that program for more than a decade. Recently, I returned to teaching at Antonelli Art Institute. I’ve been there for about three years. I instruct first and second year students in Typography, Photoshop, Graphic Design and a course called Design Studio. At the moment, I am teaching nearly seventy students this semester in six different classes.”
It was his work at a greeting card company years back that brought Christian to meet the love of his life – fellow illustrator Melissa Lomax. The couple has long since moved on from the company where they met. However, Melissa now works at award-winning card company Kathy Davis Studios. Lomax and Patchell make the perfect couple. They work together on art shows and projects. They offer each other professional advice and always have each other’s backs.
Melissa is one of the kindest, most easygoing people you could ever meet. But don’t let that fool you – the girl is as tough as they come.
That kind of support was definitely needed in 2007. Patchell found something on his tongue that was giving him discomfort while eating. He dismissed it as an ulcer, but Lomax demanded he get it checked. As Patch described it, “Melissa told me I wasn’t T.C.B. (Taking Care of Business, something Elvis Presley used to say.) I made a doctor’s
appointment the next day. After a biopsy, it was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral tongue, phase four – which is just fancy doctor-talk for cancer of the tongue. All joking aside, that conversation with Melissa saved my life.”
Although cancer is a terrifying word, Patch’s doctor was hopeful. He reminded Christian that he is a “statistic of one.” As a result of his diagnosis, Patchell underwent chemotherapy and radiation at the same time.
While undergoing treatment, Patch had a strong ring of support from several friends and family members. He recalled, “I am extremely fortunate to have the family and friends that I do. I am surrounded by amazingly strong women – my mother Cara, my Aunt Barbara, my sister Jenna and my girlfriend took care of me when I couldn’t take care of myself. I wouldn’t be alive without them. Friends pitched in whenever they could. I remember my best friend Kyle bringing me a mattress because the one I had wasn’t giving me the support I needed. My cartooning family from the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society sent cards and packages.”
With the cancer treatment beating him up physically and psychologically, Patch knew he needed to find a way to get himself through the pain. So he did the one thing he’s been doing since he was a child – he drew. “Cancer is a disease that takes from you by degrees, the treatments take a toll on your body and mind,” said Patch. “I had a mental checklist of things I wanted to keep doing while undergoing treatments, things that were important to me. You know, pretty normal stuff: spending time with my girlfriend, going to the movies, talking to friends. And at the top of the list was ‘drawing every day.’”
Patch’s mother gave him a special handmade sketchbook, and he decided this was the perfect time to put it to use. He made a new drawing for every day of treatment. “In the beginning, I drew because it’s what I love to do,” said Patch. “I have been drawing since I was something like four years old. My mom tells stories of how I didn’t need toys as a kid, just a pad of paper and some pencils. But later drawing became the only time I felt like myself, the only time I wasn’t sick. When I was doodling in my sketchbook I wasn’t a cancer patient. I was just me.”
Patch is now celebrating his fifth year of being cancer-free. “For anyone that has had any kind of experience with cancer, you know your fifth year is a kind of graduation of sorts,” he said. During those five years, Patch put his time to good use.
The drawings he made during treatment were made into a book entitled I Put the Can in Cancer: A Journey Through Pictures.
Patchell described his book as “half sketchbook and half diary. It contains drawings from my entire life, but the heart of the book is the twenty-five sketches I did while I underwent treatments,” he said. “Accompanying the drawings are the stories from treatments, day-to-day life and trying to creatively survive. It is also sprinkled with a little ‘how-I,’ as opposed to ‘how-to.’ I would never be so bold as to tell someone how to deal with something as personal as a disease like cancer. But there is some specific information on how I dealt with it in hopes that it might help someone in a similar situation. And I guess it is a bit of an autobiography as it tells the story of my art before, during and then after cancer. I think it is important that there is an ‘after cancer.’”
Patchell had some help with making his book a reality. Friends and fellow artists like Joe DiDomenico of Applehead Studios, photographer Concetta Barbera, editor Gina Matarazzo, and several other colleagues. Patch also had help from Jennifer Lemisch and Lamia Barakat of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
I Put the Can in Cancer is a landmark in Patch’s career and life. So far, he considers it to be his most important work. In reference to his book, Christian stated, “Through it, I have been able to raise awareness of oral cancer and the importance of early detection. Your dentist can be your greatest ally in testing for the disease. The book has also re-energized my teaching philosophy. I used to be all about making beautiful finished pieces. Now, I love to have my students keep their own sketchbooks, make artwork that means something to them. I really push concept over execution and the results have been wonderful. Students have begun to keep their own sketchbooks and sometimes visit my class to have me flip though them. That feels pretty awesome.”
When asked what advice he would give to non-artistic people fighting cancer, Patch said, “There is even a page in the book jokingly titled ‘You Don’t Have to Draw to Beat Cancer.’ Make a list of what you love to do. Nothing is too trivial for the list. Pick a hobby or whatever and dig in. There will be days, especially during treatments, where it will seem next to impossible to do anything, but it is a win even if you do it for a few minutes. And on the days when you can’t do anything at all, take solace in that you have it to return to, and get right back to it as soon as you can. Do what defines you for as long as you can, and you already got it beat.”
Patch’s book is a great resource and gift for those struggling with cancer. There are a few places to find the book. There are links to his online store from both of Patch’s websites: artbypatch.com and monstermondayscomic.com (his new weekly comic strip). There is the direct link to the store: patchworx.bigcartel.com. There is even a Facebook page for the book itself.
The book is also for sale at Brave New Worlds Comic Shop on 2nd Street in Old City.
Patchell’s fight against cancer did not stop with this book, as he continues to be active wherever and whenever he can. “I was treated at Jefferson University Hospital,” he said. “There I met a group of patients and survivors my own age called ‘Navigating the New Normal’. We try to meet once a month and just talk about everything and anything. Sometimes we hardly even talk about the cancer. Many hospitals have programs like this. There is also something called the Buddy Program, where a hospital can match you with someone with a similar diagnosis and you can exchange e-mail and talk on the phone. You can find out more about programs through your hospital’s or treatment center’s social workers. Social workers are the true patient advocates and are there to help you as much as possible. If you are not sure what to do, go to a cancer walk or event. It was one of the first things I did. This might sound corny, but the love you feel at one of these things is astounding. It not only makes you want to fight but to help others fight as well.”
His fight with cancer gave Christian Patchell a new lease on life. He spends every minute these days trying to live life to the fullest. I approached Melissa Lomax for a comment about her man. She replied, “Christian’s positive outlook, sense of humor, giving spirit, and creative drive are a constant inspiration. I feel blessed to have him as the love of my life.”
Over the holidays, Patch and Melissa were officially engaged. Currently, they are living a well-earned happily ever after.
