Dirt bike racing was something John J. Foley did for fun as a teenager.

As an adult, he came back to the sport as a stress reliever from his job as a self-employed construction worker.

Then, during an Aug. 21 practice at Red Bud Track & Trail in Buchanan, Mich., Foley's hobby made it's mark on the rest of the 29-year-old Bristol resident's life.

Louise Stemm, Foley's mother in Union, gives the details because her son has his jaw wired, a tracheotomy tube and is experiencing short-term memory loss.

"He was making a jump," said Stemm. "Nobody saw it happen so we don't know exactly what happened. But the bike landed on top of him. The foot pads of the bike went into his mouth."

The result of the mishap: a front lobe brain injury, a jaw broken in seven places, loss of all teeth, cracked upper pallet, severe facial cuts, fractured eye sockets, broken ribs, bruised lungs and a broken left wrist.

Foley was wearing all his protective gear.

After being rushed to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, he underwent surgery the day after the wreck and spent four days in the intensive care unit. He came home Sept. 8 and was put on a liquid diet that will last up to eight weeks.

Because of his memory loss, Foley can't recall anything after heading to Red Bud and eating a cheeseburger. His memories kick in again a few days before he left the hospital.

Foley was the owner of Foley's Skate Shop in Constantine just after high school and is the current owner of Foley's Construction, Inc. The business has one other employee.

"He is worried about that," said Stemm. "He had nine projects lined up."

Father John E. Foley, White Pigeon, stepfather Mitch Stemm, Union and sister Beth Foley, Elkhart, are also concerned family members.

Foley had taken a break from dirt bike riding, something he took up at age 16 when he attended Constantine High School (he graduated in 1999), because of his business.

"He didn't want to break a leg," said Stemm. "He didn't know he was going to break his face."

To add to his plight, Foley does not have health insurance. For those wishing to help, Stemm can be reached at (574) 370-6480. A fund has been established at Teachers Credit Union.