To the hundreds of children who know her, Carrie Flower is not just a doll that springs to life from the pages of children’s books, but a real girl who makes them feel safe and loved. To her creator, Cynthia W. Post, of Dallas, Pa., she’s so much more than that.
 As a young mother, Post was an avid admirer of Princess Diana, striving to emulate her mission to help children. In fact, a former neighbor, Jackie Triplett, once fondly referred to her as Lady Di.
It wasn’t until the culmination of a series of life-and-death situations that fate stepped in and Post finally found her true calling.
While serving as chairperson of the American Cancer Society’s Pink Ribbon Ball, Post received dreadful news. She had breast cancer. During that time in her life, she relied on her faith, family, and friends for support and love. As she slowly recovered, Post suffered the sudden loss of her beloved mother, Ruth, and her dear friend Donna, also a victim of breast cancer.
Physically and emotionally exhausted, she found Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling book, Eat Pray Love.
By the time she finished the book, Post realized that she really needed to rest first, and then start fresh.
Following her love of philosophy and a need to nurture, Post began training as a life coach. While she learned valuable skills, she wasn’t satisfied–she needed more.
It was then that Mitchell committed to an intense leadership program, commuting to the hills of San Francisco for almost a year. The process was not only intense, but grueling. It was there that she met a young woman named Kerry Fleur. When asked her interpretation of leadership, Fleur spouted off in a whimsical manner that true leaders “plant the seeds” for others. She had an animated aura that Post found infectious. When she relayed these thoughts to her, Fleur jokingly said that Post needed to write a children’s book about her, and that she needed to be a sunflower. When asked why, Fleur explained that she had once been the star of her nursery school play– a sunflower.
During her flight home, Post penned her first draft of Meet Carrie Flower, which she immediately shared with her two-year-old grandson. He didn’t much like the book because it didn’t rhyme, so she re-wrote it. She returned to her retreat reunion with the story in hand, and one of her fellow classmates, Big John, a Canadian publisher, strongly suggested that she find an illustrator and get the book published. The illustrator was her daughter, Kirby.
The book was published and was quickly followed by two others, Carrie Flower Goes to the Hospital and Carrie Flower Goes to Camp. Each book deals with situations and fears of children, instilling safety and security through the antics of Carrie Flower and her friends, most of whom are based on people who have touched Post’s life.
Carrie Flower then came alive as a doll, available in different outfits suited to specific situations, such as a hospital gown or camp attire, fashioned after Fleur’s retreat “uniform.” The dolls are handmade locally by friends Triplett and Yvonne Hargraves. Each doll is bundled with the three books as a “bouquet” and are being sold for $75. For each bouquet purchased, a sick or needy child receives a book and a doll.
Post began hosting interactive readings and presentations at schools, libraries, museums, and festivals. Her kick-off in October 2010, held at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, was attended by 250 parents and children. She noted that the best part about this labor of love is “working and interacting with children about subjects that usually aren’t discussed” and that “they get it, they understand, even kids as young as 3 respond with concern and compassion.”
Funded to date by Mitchell and some anonymous donors, the concept has become as infectious as Kerry Fleur herself, touching many needy children throughout the region. Through the website and Facebook™, facilities such as Geisinger have signed on to be part of the program. Special requests are accepted as well. Details can be found at www.carrieflower.com or carrieflower/facebook.
Recently, Mitchell and British native Fleur reunited in New York City, where Mitchell revealed her deep connection to the legacy of Princess Diana’s mission. Only then did Fleur tell her that it was Diana who had given her Carrie Flower–– it was Princess Diana herself who cast Fleur as the sunflower in that nursery school play so long ago.
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