LAKELAND — When Taylor Brown was 2, her mother, TaMetress “Meki” Reed, noticed a swollen spot on her daughter’s head.

But it wasn’t from a fall. The spot was one of the first signs Taylor has En Coup de Sabre, a forehead indentation caused by linear scleroderma.

Taylor, now 13 and in eighth grade, was first diagnosed with scleroderma in 2014. According to the Scleroderma Foundation, the disease affects the body’s connective tissues and causes hardening of the skin. Throughout her life, Taylor's symptoms have included nose bleeds, joint pain, hand discoloration, cold feet and headaches.

“It was heartbreaking when we first found out,” Reed, 38, said. “It’s treatable, but they haven’t found something that’s consistent with everyone. It’s different in each person’s body.”

Besides treatments, Taylor has found her own way to persevere despite her disease. After attending the 19th annual Scleroderma Foundation National Patient Education Conference in Chandler, Ariz., in July, she was inspired to start Taylor’s Journey Foundation. Currently in the process of becoming a nonprofit, the foundation will raise money for research to find a cure for scleroderma.

“It’s a disease that can affect your body, but it won’t defeat you,” Taylor said.

The conference included 600 attendees ranging from scleroderma patients to friends, family members and supporters. The three-day conference included workshops for both kids and parents.

“Since going to the conference, my outlook’s changed a lot,” Reed said. “I feel more confident about her having a full and healthy life. Everyone was encouraging, even the ones you could tell were in pain. You have this, it doesn’t have you. ”

Taylor and Reed have found support for the foundation from longtime family friend and Lakeland entrepreneur, Altrichia “A.Lekay” Cook.

“Our families are really close, our dads grew up together,” Cook, 30, said. “It’s three generations of family friendship. Taylor told me that, because she’s experienced bullying, that this would help her help others learn about what she’s going through. I thought that was very admirable for a young girl.”

Cook has encouraged her to embrace public speaking, including at church and at the conference’s kids’ group.

“Seeing the entrepreneurial spirit in her, it just makes me want to pour into her,” Cook said. “I’m giving her feedback on speaking and supporting her through her journey. I just tell her, ‘You were born with greatness, regardless of what you’re experiencing.’ I always encourage her to not be angry at the people who have hurt her feelings, but to always kill rudeness with kindness.”

Cook and Taylor have a passion for fashion. On Oct. 1, Lakeland-based Meeting of the Mindz will host a fashion show benefiting both the Scleroderma Foundation and Taylor’s Journey Foundation. Ticket price and location have not yet been determined.

“The show will include a scene dedicated to Taylor,” said Reed, who added that her daughter loves sewing and creating her own hair bows, drawing and basketball. “She’s vibrant. Her grandma calls her Punky Brewster.”

As she presses on in the face of her disease, Reed said that she’s been inspired by her daughter.

“She never complains,” Reed said. “She’s one of those kids that’s very strong. She actually gives me strength sometimes. She doesn’t want people feeling sorry for her, she just wants them to be aware.”