PIX Get Swabbed: 11-Year-Old Broadway Starlet Seeks Bone Marrow Donor

This week on the PIX Morning News, we are leading a week-long effort to bring awareness to the need for bone marrow donors. It's called "PIX Get Swabbed" and it's inspired by 11-year-old Shannon Tavarez, star of the broadway musical "The Lion King."

Tavarez, a native of Queens, already had a promising Broadway career performing four shows a week as Young Nala in the hit show. Shannon juggled a full day of school before rushing to the Minskoff Theatre -- she was living her dream. Now, just two months later, Shannon's dream is simply to grow up and return to her normal life. In April, Shannon was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia.

The talented young star was performing on stage when the symptoms first hit. Her lower back and legs suddenly started hurting making it difficult for her to perform or even walk.

Now, Shannon lives at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in Long Island where she receives daily chemotherapy treatments. A bone marrow transplant from a stranger may be her only chance at survival.

Shannon's mother is African-American and her father is Dominican.

Only 8 percent of the 7 million registered donors are African-American, which means that only 17 percent of African-Americans in need of a transplant will actually receive one.

Every day, thousands of patients search the national registry in hope of a bone marrow donor match. Six out of 10 patients will never receive a transplant. Registering to become a bone marrow donor starts with a simple cheek swab; it is a commitment to help save a life.

Donors must be between 18 and 55 and in good general health and meet the eligibility requirements. Upon completion of a simple registration form, prospective donors will receive a swab (with a cotton-tip) of the inside the cheek to collect cheek cells which identify HLA tissue-type.

If prospective donors are found to be a match, a DKMS representative will contact them to answer an extended health questionnaire. At that point, a scheduled blood test and physical examination will ultimately determine if those candidates are in fact, the best suitable donors. When prospective donors register with DKMS, they will also be listed on the Be The Match Registry® (operated by the NMDP) and to be a possible donor match for any patient in need of a bone marrow transplant.

The laboratory cost incurred by DKMS for registering a new potential donor is $65. Payment of lab fees is not mandatory, but as a non-profit organization, DKMS depends on public donations and contributions to underwrite the fees.

For more information, visit www.matchshannon.com, www.getswabbed.org and www.dkms.org.

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A SWAB KIT.