Mack Richards’ life changed on May 4, 2006 in Iraq, and now he’s trying to get all of it back.

The Nebraska Army National Guard sergeant suffered a traumatic brain injury when an enemy rocket exploded within 25 feet of him.

Since the blast, Richards said, he’s had “real problems remembering and putting words together sometimes.”

But Richards is finding his way back with specialized care and services at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.

“I’ve made a lot of progress,” Richards said during a news conference at the hospital with Sen. Ben Nelson and Madonna doctors and officials.

Nelson, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of its military personnel subcommittee, said he’s committed to making certain other wounded soldiers have access to the same kind of care.

“I want to make sure we make the connection between the military and rehabilitation hospitals at the private level to take care of traumatic brain injury,” Nelson said.

“I want to be sure special care is available” to meet the needs of all soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, and provide those services as close to home as possible.

“We will take care of whatever funding is necessary,” said Nelson, who also is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Included in the Iraq supplemental appropriations bill approved by the Senate is nearly $1 billion in funding for additional veterans services, including traumatic brain injury facilities, treatment and research.

President Bush has pledged to veto the bill because it urges a phased military withdrawal from Iraq and includes a non-binding goal of withdrawing most U.S. troops by the end of next March.

Richards, 51, of Lincoln, was performing supply and carpenter shop duties in Iraq with the 1-167th Cavalry when the blast occurred, injuring a wrist and an ankle as well as causing traumatic brain injury.

After initial military medical care at Balad in Iraq, which Richards described as excellent, he ran into a wall after he was transferred to a facility in the United States.

“He spent three months without treatment at all,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Bailey, assistant adjutant general.

“He had to write it on his hand that he wanted to go home to get care,” Bailey said.

With the Nebraska Guard serving as his advocate, Richards was able to secure care at Madonna.

Injured troops who are sometimes “caught in the medical processing system” need proponents, or advocates, Bailey said,

“We’re very happy Sgt. Richards has found his way home.”

Nelson said he hopes the U.S. military and the Veterans Administration will form a partnership with Madonna for specialized care.

Acute care for wounded soldiers is excellent, Nelson said, “but we haven’t caught up with care for traumatic brain injury.”

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.