11-year-old 'Lion King' actress gets blood transplant

11-year-old 'Lion King' actress gets blood transplant

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (AP) - An 11-year-old girl with leukemia who played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway has undergone a potentially lifesaving procedure in New York. Shannon Tavarez received an umbilical-cord blood transplant Tuesday at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, on Long Island. The procedure was performed as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. Her doctor said they were unable to find a perfect bone marrow match for Shannon. WATCH AN ORIGINAL GRIO REPORT ON SHANNON TAVAREZ: A family friend says Shannon will remain in the hospital under observation while physicians ensure that her body does not reject the blood transplant. The actress was forced to quit the show in April. Cast members held a "bone marrow donor registration drive":http://www.thegrio.com/health/lion-king-child-stars-leukemia-battle-wins-broadway-support.php for her last month. _Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed._