Shannon Tavarez News

According to a report by the Daily News, 11 year old Shannon Taverez will be recieving a umbilical-cord transplant next week to combat her acute myeloid leukemia. The soprano from Queens recently played Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway. Serving as an alternative to a bone-marrow transplant, Shannon will receive the umbilical-cord blood from an anonymous donor, as doctors were unable to find a bone marrow match.

New York Blood Center (NYBC), serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, calls upon the communities it serves to remember your neighbors during this slow, late summer period for blood donations - and schedule a donation appointment or consider sponsoring a blood drive, because patients' needs do not take a summer break.

Ryan Flynn and Maria Theo will host Emma Hunton, Tim Young and more during 'Songs for a Cure,' a night of song to benefit DKMS and former Lion King cast member battling AML leukemia, Shannon Tavarez, August 16th at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

At just eleven-years-old Shannon Tavarez (a native of Queens) already had a promising Broadway career performing four shows a week as Young Nala in DISNEY'S The Lion King. Shannon juggled a full day of school before rushing to the Minskoff Theatre - - she was living her dream. Now, just two months later, Shannon's dream is simply to grow up and return to her normal life. In April, Shannon was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. The talented young star was performing on stage when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it difficult for her to perform or even walk. 'When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me. It was shocking and I thought, why me?' said Shannon.

DKMS, the fastest growing bone marrow donor center in the U.S., has registered close to 2,500 people who were inspired by 11-year-old Shannon Tavarez's story.

At just eleven-years-old Shannon Tavarez (a native of Queens) already had a promising Broadway career performing four shows a week as Young Nala in DISNEY'S The Lion King. Shannon juggled a full day of school before rushing to the Minskoff Theatre - - she was living her dream. Now, just two months later, Shannon's dream is simply to grow up and return to her normal life. In April, Shannon was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. The talented young star was performing on stage when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it difficult for her to perform or even walk. 'When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me. It was shocking and I thought, why me?' said Shannon.

People Magazine is reporting that singers Alicia Keys and Rihanna are teaming up to lend a hand to Broadway's Shannon Tavarez. The young starlet was starring in The Lion King when she was diagnosed with leukemia.

At just eleven-years-old Shannon Tavarez (a native of Queens) already had a promising Broadway career performing four shows a week as Young Nala in DISNEY'S The Lion King. Shannon juggled a full day of school before rushing to the Minskoff Theatre - - she was living her dream. Now, just two months later, Shannon's dream is simply to grow up and return to her normal life. In April, Shannon was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. The talented young star was performing on stage when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it difficult for her to perform or even walk. 'When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me. It was shocking and I thought, why me?' said Shannon.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, former LION KING cub Shannon Tavarez was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia in April of this year. The talented young star was performing at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it hard for her to perform or even walk. She now lives at Schneider Children's Hospital in Long Island where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. A bone marrow transplant from a stranger may be her only chance at survival, and she bravely continues to search for a match. Click below see Tavarez sing 'Circle of Life' from the hospital in a New PSA spot.

At just eleven-years-old Shannon Tavarez already had a promising Broadway career. She was performing four shows a week as young Nala in The Lion King. Everyday Shannon juggled a full day of school before rushing to the theater for an evening show at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway-- She was living her dream. Now, just two months later, Shannon's dream is simply to grow up. In April Shannon was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. The talented young star was performing when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it hard for her to perform or even walk. 'When I found out, it hit me really hard, like someone was throwing a ball at me. It was shocking and I thought, why me?' said Shannon. Now she lives at Schneider Children's Hospital in Long Island where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. A bone marrow transplant from a stranger may be her only chance at survival.

Shannon Tavarez, who has appeared on Broadway in Disney's THE LION KING, has been diagnosed with leukemia.