He's going through a bad/difficult/rough 'patch' [='spell'] right now.
The chair's original paint is still visible 'in patches'. [=in spots]
The doctor 'patched' him 'up', so he's going to be as good as new.
(..) Try this. l found a great jar of it. Olive oil. Thank you. ls this for my hair? Yes, for your hair. There wss a general who wore a patch... over a perfectly good eye. The men fought harder for him. Sometimes l think l could get up and dance. What's under your mittens? What's under your mittens? (..)1996 The English Patient