Posts Tagged ‘Lion King Shannon Tavarez’
Broadway Rallies for Lion King Star – Shannon Tavarez
Today, Shannon’s “Lion King” cast mates are coming together to hold a drive at the Minskoff Theater in Times Square, hoping to find a donor match.
Those who would like to become bone marrow donors, can go online to dkmsamericas.org and sign up for a swab kit that will be sent in the mail.
Results are sent to a lab for genetic testing and if it’s a match for anyone in the database, including Shannon, the donor receives a call.
“They’re having a drive in the lobby, and I hope a lot of people come out because they can save my life or anyone else who’s going through what I’m going through,” said Shannon.
“It’s a great feeling, performing for people and being young Nala, because she’s tough and I feel like that’s who I am through this whole experience,” said Shannon.
Shannon, who has no siblings, is part African-American and part hispanic, but of the 7 million Americans listed as potential donors, only 12 percent are minorities.
“She’s just a great kid,” said Joel Karie, a Broadway cast member.
Shannon was hospitalized for two months, undergoing chemotherapy. She temporarily lost her hair but suffered no other side effects like nausea or loss of appetite. She gave her family a scare when she developed an IV line infection, but it later resolved.
‘Lion King’ child Star Battling Cancer – Shannon Tavarez
Child star Shannon Tavarez, who played young Nala in the Broadway version of The Lion King, is battling cancer at the age of 11.
The young actress was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia in April this year. Tavarez was performing when the symptoms first hit, according to theatre news website BroadwayWorld.
“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 Tavarez.
She is now a patient at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Long Island, where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments while awaiting a bone marrow transplant.
Tavarez had a promising Broadway career and was performing four shows a week in The Lion King, until she was diagnosed with the deadly disease.
