When Kamalu wasn't talking and having learning difficulties, his mom, Chelsea Anoba, didn't know what to do.

The single mother took him to doctors and then Kailua Easter Seals. And then the doctors mentioned something she hadn't thought about. Lead poisoning.

And while it's borderline, Anoba, 19, said it makes sense now that she knows more about it. She spouts off facts and figures like a drill sergeant does orders to a private: Low-levels of lead, an additive sometimes found in paint, can cause learning difficulties in children and can cause attention disorders, behavior problems and learning difficulties.

Anoba said they had the paint tested on the walls of 24-month-old Kamalu's bedroom in the house they're living at with Anoba's boyfriend's parents. That's where the lead came from, so they repainted.

"We scraped away the paint and repainted the house," said Anoba, who lives in Kailua. "We had Kamalu stay away from home for a while while we were painting. I do see an improvement but I can't tell about the lead levels until we get a blood test taken."

Each day she struggles to make ends meet. She works part time and would like to work more hours, but cannot because of childcare issues. Easter Seals is helping her find a childcare provider that can accommodate her son who needs therapeutic services, like speech and cognitive therapy, Anoba said.

Anoba would like a digital camera to take pictures of her son. She would also like a metal swing set with a slide and seesaw for the backyard.

"I just want my child to have the type of Christmas that I had growing up," Anoba said. "Kamalu likes to be outdoors and we have a big yard to put the swing set in."