ST. CHARLES, Ill., Dec. 6, 2018 /Standard Newswire/ -- In 2017, Bill and Lynn Knotts of St. Charles, Illinois, spent their wedding anniversary in St. Charles, Illinois, but it was not until their next wedding anniversary in 2018, that Lynn says was the most special. They spent that anniversary in the hospital. Bill had been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse in 2014–a leaking mitral valve. He underwent his first cardiac surgery in 2014. After that surgery, Bill was still having symptoms over the next four years requiring him to have a second heart surgery in June of this year. Bill learned he would have to fight against the cruelest opponent – a second open heart surgery – to repair the results from the first surgery. After the second open heart surgery on June 1, 2018, and after fighting the the hardest fight of his life for 174 days, he passed away on Thanksgiving Day while surrounded by family and loved ones.