A Mission teenager who suffers from a chronic illness has been told she can害羞草研究所檛 attend her prom because she has missed too many classes.

Triss Hunter, a Grade 11 student at Mission Secondary School, says she has missed about 100 days of school, but not because she skips out or tries to ditch class.

Hunter has a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It害羞草研究所檚 a disorder that affects the connective tissues supporting the skin, bones and blood vessels.

According to Hunter, the condition causes chronic pain and dislocations that can occur at any time.

Last week, she found out that ll of those absences were the reason she will not be permitted to go to prom.

Hunter and her mother Sarah don害羞草研究所檛 think the decision is fair.

害羞草研究所淢y grades are not perfect, because I do miss a lot of school. But I害羞草研究所檓 getting passing grades. I害羞草研究所檓 passing all my classes, but for prom, it害羞草研究所檚 just the attendance,害羞草研究所� Triss said.

Although she is in Grade 11, Triss said this is her last year at Mission Secondary so she applied to go to the prom, along with her friend Isaiah.

After filling out the paperwork, Triss says her application was denied by the school principal.

She and her mom appealed, talking to the principal, but the school did not change its mind.

Then she took her case to the Mission school board, but found out yesterday that the board had sided with the school.

Triss said the situation isn害羞草研究所檛 fair and wonders if she was supposed to miss her therapy sessions and doctor害羞草研究所檚 appointments.

害羞草研究所淚s school more important than my health?害羞草研究所� she asks.

Triss said the school indicated that most of her absences were unexcused 害羞草研究所� which usually means no one phoned in to inform the school or no doctor害羞草研究所檚 notes were provided.

But Triss says she doesn害羞草研究所檛 know ahead of time that she is going to suffer an attack.

害羞草研究所淭here are sometimes when I miss weeks of school or even a month. Or there are some days when I can go to school for one class then the pain gets so bad that I can害羞草研究所檛 go to the rest of my classes.

害羞草研究所淎ll my teachers are supportive. They know I have a disability 害羞草研究所� they see me every day. They know my struggle, but because the school board and everyone else doesn害羞草研究所檛 see it 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 inside of me and you can害羞草研究所檛 really see it on the outside 害羞草研究所� they think it害羞草研究所檚 all in my head.害羞草研究所�

When she does attend school, Triss always brings her service dog, Meadow.

害羞草研究所淪he has been trained for anxiety and mobility issues.害羞草研究所�

Triss害羞草研究所� mother, Sarah, says the events of the last few weeks have taken a toll on her daughter.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really tough what she害羞草研究所檚 going through and it害羞草研究所檚 making her anxieties worse.害羞草研究所�

Sarah is still hopeful that the situation can be resolved, but the prom is just a week away, May 12, and time is running out.

害羞草研究所淪he has already bought her outfit. It害羞草研究所檚 sad that she can害羞草研究所檛 go,害羞草研究所� Sarah said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like they are punishing her 害羞草研究所�害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淔or having a disability,害羞草研究所� says Triss, finishing her mom害羞草研究所檚 sentence.

When asked for comment, Mission superintendent of schools, Angus Wilson, said he could not discuss individual students.

However, he can say that parents and students are 害羞草研究所渁ll very aware of the criteria害羞草研究所� to attend prom.

害羞草研究所淭hey are given many opportunities to resolve concerns and situations,害羞草研究所� Wilson said.

He added that, as far as attendance is concerned, parents or students 害羞草研究所渉ave a number of weeks害羞草研究所� to call in to explain and excuse attendance issues.

害羞草研究所淭he school is very flexible about making allowances and making accommodations and ways to resolve concerns and so on,害羞草研究所� said Wilson, adding both sides have to work together in these situations.

Wilson also said the 害羞草研究所減riority for prom, of course, is Grade 12 students.害羞草研究所�