Olympic cyclist Zach Bell tells heartbreaking story about the death of his infant son

The words are simple but heartbreaking.

Writing on his blog, Olympic cyclist Zach Bell tells about the recent death of his infant son. It's impossible to read the story without feeling the pain and anguish felt by Bell and his wife Rebecca over the loss of the couple's first child.

"Rebecca and I love him with all our hearts after only a short time,'' Bell posted on his website www.zerailleur.com.

"Even though he never had a chance with us here we got to know him and his personality over the last 9 months. He has forever changed things for us. Cycling and its challenges seem small compared to what he fought against. We will miss him.''

Paxton Michael Bell was born Oct. 13. He immediately experienced breathing problems and was moved to B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver. For two days doctors and specialists cared for the infant.

"In the end they came to us with the most terrifying news I have ever received in my life,'' Bell wrote. "During the labour there was some sort of problem that prevented the umbilical chord from delivering the things it needed to him, specifically gases like oxygen. They think it occurred somewhere in the 2nd half of the labour process and was prolonged enough that Paxton suffered an acute, severe brain event. There was no part of him that was not impacted. Our perfect boy, a perfect pregnancy for my wife, had grown just the way he should have and had everything robbed of him.''

Doctors told Bell and his wife the child was unlikely to survive. Facing a decision no parents should ever be forced to make, the couple make the choice to take the Paxton off life support to see if he had the ability to survive on his own.

"After a fight that seemed to last an eternity it was obvious he did not and he passed quietly cradled in his mother's arms. The perfect picture of an infant that never had the chance to show his true colours.''

Some might wonder why Bell decided to make his grief so public.

The answer lies in the Olympics.

Bell, who was born in the Yukon but now lives in North Vancouver, B.C., competed at the London Olympics in the omnium. A two-time world champion silver medallist, he was considered a podium threat at the Games but finished eighth.

Afterwards, the 34-year-old was asked whether he would compete at the 2014 Olympics in Rio.

"There are one and a half people in the crowd that are going to have to answer that question before I do," Bell said at the time.

Bell believes the world deserved to know the news.

''I am writing this because I know there are many who were awaiting his arrival,'' Bell wrote. "I know many of you saw him and my wife at the Games and may be wondering when he might greet the world. But mostly, I am writing this as a proud father of a little fighter who never had the chance. He had no one to defend him in his moment of need.''

A fund as been established at B.C. Children's Hospital in Paxton's name.

"Telling this only highlights the emptiness that my wife and I feel but I think it is something that needs to be told,'' Bell wrote.

"I hope this encourages some to take the time to be with loved ones and cherish what you have. I hope you can all do this to honour the potential Paxton held for our family and those moments he will never have even though he had all the chance in the world.''