Arrested on September 10, 2008 for possession of cocaine, Father Christopher A. Layden, a Catholic Chaplain at the University of Illinois, entered into the darkest period of his life. To all appearances Father Layden was a hard working, happy, and popular priest on campus fulfilling his vocation without issues. Few people recognized that he was suffering from a debilitating addiction to cocaine. As the scandal quickly made national headlines, Father Layden feared that his students and friends would look upon him with anger and disgust.

Mark Schmitt was a student at the University of Illinois who became friends with Father Layden. While experiencing a dark period in his life, the young priest inspired Mark to rediscover his faith in God and himself. After Father Layden's arrest, Mark and many other students sought to encourage Father Layden in his recovery and to help him understand how he positively impacted the lives of hundreds of people.

Hell and Back chronicles the inspirational story of how the ministered became the ministers to help Father Layden climb out of the depths of his despair into a new life of hope. By sharing his story of temptation and tragedy, he hopes to inspire others on a similar path find recovery from the disease of addiction.