A Mother's Fight: From Crisis to Hope

Tamika Rollins discovered her daughter's lead poisoning at age 2. Ten years later, she's still fighting for her child's future --- and urging other parents to get their children tested.

When Tamika Rollins took her two-year-old daughter for routine blood work ten years ago, she had no idea the next phone call would change their lives forever. Living on North Hermitage in Trenton at the time, Rollins received a call that no parent wants to hear.

That emergency call revealed her daughter's blood lead level was 16 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) --- a level that far exceeds the current CDC reference value of 3.5 μg/dL and puts children at serious risk for developmental impacts. According to the CDC, children with blood lead levels at or above 3.5 μg/dL are among the top 2.5% with the highest blood lead levels in the United States, and children with blood lead concentrations greater than 10 μg/dL are in danger of developmental disabilities.

The lab technician delivered devastating news: "They said her lead poison number was 16 and it can start affecting her brain."

Lead exposure is particularly harmful to children because their developing brains and nervous systems are more susceptible to the toxic effects. Lead affects every one of the body's organ systems, especially the nervous system, and increased blood lead level in children has been correlated with decreases in intelligence, nonverbal reasoning, short-term memory, attention, reading and arithmetic ability.

At her daughter's level of 16 μg/dL, the risk for cognitive and developmental impacts became significant. "They told me there was really nothing that I could do as far as the lead because her numbers was already too high," Rollins remembers. "So they told me to call a lawyer."

When Rollins consulted with attorneys, she encountered a harsh reality of lead poisoning litigation. "They said her levels had to be 26 in order for me to have a case," she explains. "They told me her situation is bad, but it's not that bad where they could take on the case."

The attorneys advised her to keep documentation and warned that her daughter might develop problems in school as she got older. "They told me once she gets into higher grades for me to get her evaluated."

That prediction proved accurate, but getting help would prove to be a years-long struggle.

Fighting for Educational Support

By second grade, Rollins began noticing academic struggles. "Once she got into second grade, we started seeing problems with her schooling." But getting her daughter evaluated for special education services became a bureaucratic nightmare that lasted years.

"I kept going back and forth, writing letters to the Board of Education saying that she needed to get evaluated because they would send me all types of letters saying her grades were too low," Rollins explains. "I'm like, 'She's got a problem,' and I actually went back and forth for like two years trying to get her evaluated."

The breakthrough came when Rollins took her case directly to the Board of Education with documentation in hand. "I gave them a letter telling them, 'Look at all her grades. She's getting all F's and D's. Her brain is messed up from the lead.' Once I gave them the paperwork from the lawyer showing she did have lead poisoning, I gave them the lab results, and then it seemed like they fast-tracked it."

Finally, in sixth grade, her daughter was evaluated and qualified for an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The testing revealed the extent of the damage: "She was in sixth grade, but she was on the kindergarten level."

Today, at age 12 and entering seventh grade, Rollins' daughter is making remarkable progress with educational support. During a recent evaluation, "they said she scored the highest out of all the kids" who took the IEP assessment, though she still needs continued support.

The lead levels have also improved over time. Through moving out of the North Hermitage residence and dietary changes --- particularly increasing fruits and vegetables, which her daughter loves --- the blood lead level dropped from 16 to 13, then to 9. "Then it was just like there was nothing else they could do," Rollins says.

Despite the challenges, her daughter has big dreams. "She wants to be a pilot," Rollins says with pride. "I told her, 'You could fly me around the world.'"

Rollins' experience has made her a passionate advocate for lead testing, especially for families living in older housing. Her advice to other parents is simple and urgent: "Get their kids' blood work done immediately."

"I think it's really important because if I would have never taken her to the doctor and got the lab work done, I would have never known, and her situation could have actually turned out worse," she emphasizes. "I wouldn't have ever known it was at 16, and by staying there where we were living, it could have actually gone higher to the count of 26 like the lawyer said, and it would have really damaged her brain."

The timing of testing proved crucial. Children enrolled in Medicaid are required to get tested for lead at ages 12 and 24 months, and the CDC recommends focusing testing efforts on high-risk neighborhoods and children. For families in older housing, this testing can be life-changing.

A New Beginning

After the lead poisoning discovery, Rollins applied for new housing and was moved quickly to a safer environment. "Once I went and checked on my application to where I'm at now, they moved us in immediately, so I was just happy about that."

Now, as her daughter continues to make educational strides with IEP support, Rollins reflects on their journey from crisis to hope. It's a story of a mother's persistence, a child's resilience, and the critical importance of early detection and intervention.

For families concerned about lead exposure, blood testing is available through healthcare providers and local health departments, with costs typically covered by insurance or Medicaid.

And the message from Rollins is clear: don't wait.

Local Resources for Lead Testing and Prevention

For Trenton families concerned about lead exposure, the East Trenton Collaborative (ETC), led by Trenton-based community development and environmental organization Isles, Inc., offers comprehensive support and resources through their "Get the Lead Out of Trenton" initiative. As one of three Lead-Free NJ Community Hubs, ETC provides crucial services to help families protect their children from lead exposure.

Available Services Include:

Free Healthy Homes Assessments: Isles can perform a comprehensive assessment of your home to test for lead and other contamination in both paint and water. A team member will visit your home, conduct testing, and provide tips on keeping your home lead-safe and healthy.

Lead Resource Support: ETC has created a Lead Resource Card (available in English and Spanish) that provides contacts for clinical lead testing, lead pipe replacement services, and home assessments specifically for the Trenton area. The card also includes multiple lead prevention measures families can take.

Water Line Testing Assistance: ETC helps families work with Trenton Water Works to determine if their homes have lead service lines and guides them through the materials survey process.

Community Organizing: ETC's Environmental Safety Community Organizing Committee plans events and initiatives focused on lead exposure and remediation, creating opportunities for community members to get involved in advocacy efforts.

How to Access Services:

The East Trenton Collaborative works closely with Lead-Free New Jersey to ensure Trenton families have access to the resources, testing, and support they need to protect their children from lead exposure. All services are provided at no cost to families, removing barriers that might prevent parents from getting the help they need.

Emily Eversgettheleadoutoftrenton, leadfree, community