Talented child star Shannon Tavarez, the 11-year-old who was a beloved Broadway star and worked in Lion King, succumbed to leukemia after a protracted battle for survival. She was all of 11 years.

Shannon died Monday afternoon, November 1in New Hyde Park at Long Island. Spokesperson for the Cohen Medical Center for children said that she was fighting a rare type of leukemia that is not usually prevalent among children. She was inspirational in her battle against the disease at a tender age and did much to raise awareness about the debilitating disease that makes bone marrow transplants essential for survival.

Minders at the medical facility said that she was a very talented and thoughtful child who touched the hearts of all and sundry, be it the child audience she entertained, or the care-takers at the hospital facility who bonded with her over the last few months

Tragically for Shannon Tavarez, there was no suitable match for a bone marrow transplant and facing this difficulty, doctors went in for cord blood. Her brave survival bid and attempt to raise awareness about the disease endeared her to all, and also won support from top-ranked stars like Rihanna, Alicia Keys and 50 Cent. The terrible disease claims the life of infants as young as a year if a bone marrow match is not found.

Shannon Tavarez brought joy and succour to countless lives when she succeeded in getting over 10,000 people to register in the worthy cause of bone marrow donorship. She campaigned on her website that just a “swab test taken from the cheek” could save a life if there was a match.

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