LION KING's Tavarez to Receive Lifesaving Leukemia Treatment

According to a report by the Daily News, 11 year old Shannon Tavarez 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.

In preparation for her upcoming surgery, Shannon is currently receiving chemotherapy at Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York. "She's in good spirits. She's singing and playing the piano. She can't wait. She calls this her 'new birthday,'" said mom, Odiney Brown.

Shannon got the role of Young Nala after her first open audition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. She attended Harlem School of the Arts for vocals and piano from the age of 3.  Her coach was the person who encouraged her to audition.  She made her Broadway debut in September of 2009, and she played four of eight shows a week until April when her symptoms began.

To read the full article, visit: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/13/2010-08-13_lion_king_cub_to_get_lifesaving_transplant.html#ixzz0wXHQoHpa