Lion King Alum and Leukemia Patient Shannon Tavarez Calls for Bone Marrow Donors

Eleven-year-old actress Shannon Tavares was happily playing Young Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King when she was diagnosed with AML leukemia only two months ago. The talented tween is now receiving chemotherapy treatments at Schneider Children’s Hospital on Long Island, but her doctor feels that a bone marrow transplant from a stranger may be needed to save her life. Complicating the search for a matching donor is the fact that Shannon’s mother is African-American and her father is Dominican. The young actress decided to approach this challenge pro-actively with a PSA explaining the need for people of all ethnicities to sign up as potential bone marrow donors. Take a look at the smiling face of a brave young Broadway pro, then order a registration kit at www.getswabbed.org. Shannon, we’re rooting for you!