William Lachlan Underwood was born February 17, 2009 in Marietta, Georgia. From the day he was born he faced adversity; having survived a difficult labor and complete uterine rupture. So we called him ‘Lucky.’ But it didn’t take long for us to realize that he wasn’t lucky, he was a fighter.
At ten weeks old Lachlan endured open heart surgery to repair a very large whole in his heart. He was in the cardiac intensive care unit less than twenty-four hours and left the hospital four days later. His spirit was always strong, and it took no time for his body to catch up. Soon he was crawling, was walking at ten months and was running by age one. He approached everything with confidence and never looked back.
Lachlan’s second birthday was planned to be a pizza party with family, farm animals, tractors, giant yellow sunshine balloons and smaller blue ones with white clouds on them. Instead, he woke with his head tilted to the side and unable to walk. He was admitted to Scottish Rite Children’s hospital where an MRI the next day revealed a brain tumor.
Our little warrior fought for eight months and four days. He endured more procedures, surgeries, and medicine than several people combined would endure in a lifetime. Through it all he was brave, beautiful, and bright. When we were tired and weary, it was Lachlan who shined his light and helped us see the path of strength and the hope of another day.
Lachlan Underwood danced among us for a brief moment of time; but the impact he made on those who knew him, and those who knew of him, will be felt as long as we all live. He was sweet, caring, bold, adventurous, fearless, smart, clever, athletic, funny, resilient, optimistic, loved music and dancing, loved to eat, loved tractors, airplanes, and golf carts, had big beautiful blue eyes, super curly hair, a huge muppet smile, and a laugh that made your soul soar. Lachlan taught us the true value of a simple smile. He taught us all to live, now. He taught us that we are all stronger than we think we are. He taught us to forge on and never look back. But most of all, he taught us that one little light can shine brighter than a thousand stars. We miss him every moment of every day.
Read more about Lachlan at tomorrowskisses.com.
Lachlan's Light 
So touching. I spoke to you after the parade Wed. and your little guy has been on my mind since then. So I came here and read, through tears, the posts his mom wrote. You didn’t mention then but I read now he had a brain tumor. I think we will never quit asking why when we face this sort of heartbreak. My friend’s child has spent many days on the AFLAC floor at Scottish Rite. She is 12 and has been fighting Leukemia since she was 7. In remission now adfter relapsing twice, and is still being treated. While visiting there I see so, so many little children so very sick. Life is so fragile. My heart goes out to your family But my belief system tells me your little guy is smiling down on you and knows how much you love and miss him. God bless you.
Thank you SO much for sharing your story. I was at the Woodstock 4th of July parade and saw your beautiful float. I happened to be at the City Council meeting Monday and heard the story of your beautiful family and your special little man behind the float. As the mother to 3 small children myself, my heart goes out to you. Lachlan and your family will be in my prayers. I have shared your story with others so that they may know the beauty Lauchlan brought into this world. Thank you.