Brendon Alexander Norwood Hudson wasn't a typical 13-year-old boy.

Even though he sometimes kept a messy room and had to be reminded to pick up his toys, his fondness for animals and caring spirit were unique.

Instead of birthday or Christmas presents for himself, he'd ask for donations to the World Wildlife Fund to help care for animals.

Brendon died unexpectedly in his sleep Feb. 5 of what is suspected to be a grand mal seizure.

The only child of Laura Hudson, he was born 13 weeks premature on Dec. 13, 1993, in Baton Rouge, La., weighing just 1 pound, 12 ounces.

He spent the first four months of his life in the hospital.

"He was a fighter from the very beginning," Hudson said. "He had no health problems, other than his lungs were underdeveloped."

As he grew, Brendon suffered from a slight attention disorder but found a love of animals early on.

He was recently diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism, his mother said.

"He could communicate better with (animals)," she said. "They didn't judge him and understood him better than his peers did."

In 1998, mother and son moved to Arvada to live with her soon-to-be husband, Thomas Hudson.

In May, Laura and Brendon moved to Lochbuie, northeast of Brighton. He attended seventh grade at Weld Central Junior/Senior High School.

"He had a big heart," his mother said.

Brendon is survived by his mother; father, Thomas Hudson; biological father, David Norwood; and several other family members.

A memorial service was held in Brighton on Feb. 10.

In lieu of flowers or cards, donations may be made to the Brendon Hudson Memorial Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 15 S. Main St., Brighton, CO 80601, or any Wells Fargo location.

prietob@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5219