Already an honorary parade marshal, junior FBI agent and police officer, boy scout camp director, basketball official, Fox 2 morning host and five-time pediatric brain cancer warrior, 12-year-old Drew Patchin can now add “book author” to his list of remarkable milestones. He just released his debut children’s book, “Marshmallow Can Do Hard Things,” a handsomely illustrated story that encourages kids to find courage and resilience when facing life’s challenges — a message Drew knows intimately. He has spent the last six years battling a rare form of brain cancer called Anaplastic ependymoma.

The book is now available on Amazon for $14.38, and all proceeds benefit The Bennett Project, a nonprofit supporting families fighting cancer in the St. Louis area. It’s published through Books That Heal, an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of young patients dealing with life-threatening illnesses through storytelling.

“I wrote the book because it relates to me,” said Drew, a seventh grader at Parkway Northeast Middle School. “I want to help other kids with my book learn how to do hard things.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Drew’s aunt, Debbie Schultz, a.k.a. “Aunt Bebbie,” explained that Drew chose to center the book’s story on the “hard things” he has faced during his brain cancer treatment. He underwent surgery and radiation at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, becoming the hospital’s youngest patient to receive radiation without sedation. Since then, Drew has confronted brain cancer four more times and traveled to Hermann Memorial Children’s Hospital in Houston and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis for additional treatment and clinical trials.

“He’s done a lot of really hard things in his life, and the one that is the most difficult for Drew is getting IVs or pokes,” said Schultz. “We developed a plan several years ago – a ‘poke plan,’ with all the steps that make it easier.” She explained that he listens to a special song by Rabbi Joe Black, he has comfort items with him like his service dog Snoopy and he asks the nurses to explain what they’re doing step-by-step.

“We even printed the plan and laminated it and take it to his appointments,” Schultz added.

Drew’s book follows a narwhal named Marshmallow, a timid but determined toothed whale who must face difficult challenges. With his dad’s help, Marshmallow practices and learns to tackle them—whether it’s diving deep into the ocean, starting his first day of school, or visiting the doctor. The book also features Drew’s “poke plan” and includes a special page for readers to create their own plan for facing a hard thing in their life.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The first time Drew got sick and had radiation, the child life specialist painted his radiation mask half narwhal, half bunny – his two favorite stuffed animals,” said Schultz, adding that the bunny is Dr. Floppy in the story.

“The narwhal also has a little brother in the story who helps him get ready to see the doctor,” added Schultz. She noted that Drew’s 7-year-old brother, Tyler, has been a source of constant support and encouragement to Drew.

Currently, said Schultz, Drew is battling his cancer for the fifth time. The tumor on his brain has reemerged and is growing, though he has no tumor-related symptoms and feels good right now.

“We don’t have any more curative options. We’re doing a chemo protocol at Siteman Children’s to slow the growth (of his tumor) and a lot of natural supplements, which have helped him with his quality of life,” said Schultz. “We just came back from St. Jude’s and there was growth. So we’re focusing on quality of life for as long as we can.”

Drew is now studying for his bar mitzvah at Temple Israel, which will take place Thanksgiving weekend. “We moved it up a little to make sure he could get it in while he’s still feeling good and healthy,” Schultz said.

She said her focus, along with Drew’s parents, Jennifer and Doug Patchin and brother Tyler, is to make as many more memories as possible. The group recently returned from another Disney cruise – a family favorite – and have more adventures to look forward to this fall.

“It feels like we’re living in two worlds — the day-to-day, where the kids are fighting and we’re yelling at them to stop — and then the realization that it’s not going to be this way forever,” said Schultz. “We’re focusing on what his day-to-day is like and how he’s feeling, more than on what’s to come, because we know it’s just going to get harder.”

Schultz and the Patchins say they take solace in the fact that Drew has faced many “hard things” in his young life and always manages to keep pushing forward.

“This September will be six years since he was diagnosed,” said Schultz. “We look back and see all the hard things we’ve been through, but also all the memories we’ve made. What we’ve learned and how we’ve been able to help others is a true testament to the strength Drew has — even when he doesn’t think he does.”

To celebrate the launch of “Marshmallow Can Do Hard Things,” a book release party will be held on Sept. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Chicken N Pickle in St. Charles. Families, supporters and community members are invited to join Drew and his family for fun, inspiration and storytelling.

Learn more about Drew’s ongoing battle with pediatric brain cancer by visiting his CaringBridge site or joining his Facebook page “Drew’s Crew.”