'Lion King' Actress Gets Cord-Blood Transplant

MYFOXNY.COM - Doctors at Cohen Children's Medical Center performed a cord-blood transplant on little Shannon Tavarez using blood from an umbilical cord. The transplant could save the young former "Lion King" actress.

Her big dreams to be on Broadway came true she played young Nayla in the musical. But seven months into stardom, Shannon started feeling pain in her back and legs. Doctors diagnosed leukemia.

After searching for months to find a bone marrow match, doctors turned to cord blood instead. It is not a perfect situation, but it could work, they said.

The disease put Broadway on hold for this young actress, but it never changed her spirit. She is now in the fight of her life and told Fox 5 that she will pull through.