Nine-year-old Brandon Loose knows how to make someone smile.

Even as he battles neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, Brandon brings laughter to others with his sense of humor.

Last week, while lounging on the couch in his Ephrata home and playing with truck Legos, Brandon said he was comfortable.

"I feel pretty good," the Akron Elementary School fourth-grader said.

When Brandon is not at Hershey Medical Center for a check-up, he might be watching TV — one of his favorite shows is "Scooby Doo" — or anticipating a daily visit from his cousins Chris and Deven, who bring him his homework.

"They are always knocking," Brandon smirked. "I like to wait until commercials to get the door."

On nice days, Brandon loves to ride his orange BMX bike with his older brother Shay.

"I might go out later if I'm up for it," Brandon said.

In April 2004, Brandon was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. After his diagnosis, he underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, 14 rounds of radiation therapy and a stem cell transplant, among other treatments, to rid his body of tumors.

Brandon's cancer went into remission in July 2005, but doctors discovered another tumor in April 2006.

Since then, Brandon was twice given a drug that shrank the tumors in his bone morrow to 2 percent.

The cancer returned, however, and now Brandon's battle against the disease is critical. So far this year he's been able to attend school for little more than a day.

Brandon's mom, Jamie Eager, said Brandon just began a new chemotherapy regimen, but it's unclear whether the treatment will help him.

"We're trying anything they throw at us," Eager said. "We're running out of options."

Eager is not running out of energy, however. In addition to caring for Brandon, she helps organize fundraisers for local children's cancer organizations including the Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center.

Volunteering is important to her, Eager said, because not many people know how prevalent cancer is among children or even that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

In fact, to call attention to the disease, the U.S. Senate recently designated Sept. 13 of each year as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.

"I want people to know that childhood cancer exists," Eager said. "It doesn't get enough attention."

More than 170,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in children under the age of 15 this year, according to the American Cancer Society, making cancer the second-leading cause of death in children, exceeded only by accidents. Neuroblastoma is usually found in children and accounts for one-half of cancers found in infants. About 650 new cases of the disease are diagnosed in the United States every year.

Giving back through volunteering also is a way she can thank the community for supporting Brandon, Eager said.

Through the years, the community has donated money and organized fundraisers for Brandon to help cover his family's expenses.

"I am so grateful and appreciative of the help we've gotten," Eager said. "But I still think to myself that I should be able to do this and take care of my family."

Brandon's illness continues to strain the family's finances.

"The hardest thing is not to be able to do things that we used to do with the kids," Eager said.

The situation has taken a toll on Brandon's father, Craig, and siblings, Matt, Shawna and Shay, Eager said.

"It's a family disease," she said. "They have to sit and watch and wait. They wonder whether Mom and Brandon will come home from the hospital or be admitted. It's hard on all of them."

Eager said it hasn't been easy, but she's not giving up the fight against childhood cancer.

"I need to keep myself occupied," she said. "I just don't like to sit around and do nothing."

Those interested in making a donation to assist with Brandon Loose's medical expenses may do so at any Sovereign Bank in Lancaster County. To donate by phone, call Kim at the Ephrata branch at 733-8635.

E-mail: mpennino@lnpnews.com