Hit Hard: One Family’s Journey of Letting Go of What Was—and Learning to Live Well with What Is

by Pat McLeod, Tammy McLeod, Cynthia Ruchti

Life hit Pat and Tammy McLeod hard when their son Zach collapsed on a high school football field; he had sustained a severe brain injury. Facing the devastating possibility that things would never be the same for their beloved son, they committed to staying strong as a family and finding a way to maintain their footing. But the journey would reshape their faith, their family, and their future in ways they never saw coming.

What would it take for them to navigate the endless fallout of their son's life-transforming injury? How could they reconcile their grief over the life Zach lost, with gratitude for the life that remained? And how does a couple move forward together in their search for hope, rather than letting indefinable loss drive them apart?

Hit Hard is the true story of the McLeods' journey through ambiguous loss―both having and not having their son. It's the story of a family who faced unexpected heartbreak, a story that offers us all glimpses of how we can pick up the pieces, redefine expectations, and trust God for hope in the midst of unresolved pain.

The McLeod's experience with ambiguous loss in Hit Hard is relevant to so many who have gone through similar types of loss, from PTSD to addiction recovery, families with loved ones MIA to those with Alzheimer's, those in foster care to head injuries or brain trauma. Walk with them through their journey as you find a way through yours as well.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

I was born and grew up on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains (Montana and Wyoming) with a love for the outdoors and a passion for sports.

I loved studying science and playing football at Montana State University. It was there that I began to study the life of Jesus Christ and became one of his followers.

Shortly after graduating, my love for teaching and coaching gave way to a growing passion for ministering to the spiritual needs of college students.

As a staff member with Cru, an interdenominational Christian ministry, I had the privilege of creating and helping to teach an award winning philosophy course in Science and Religion at Montana State University.

While at Harvard, I have been able to work together with some incredible students and faculty in America and South Africa to create the Mamelodi Initiative—an organization focused on improving the lives of residents in the townships of South Africa.

I have a Masters in Science and Religion and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from Boston University.

I love stories and aspire to one day tell stories as mesmerizing as my dad's.