A Mission teenager who suffers from a chronic illness has been told she can乌鸦传媒檛 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乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檛 think the decision is fair.

乌鸦传媒淢y grades are not perfect, because I do miss a lot of school. But I乌鸦传媒檓 getting passing grades. I乌鸦传媒檓 passing all my classes, but for prom, it乌鸦传媒檚 just the attendance,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檛 fair and wonders if she was supposed to miss her therapy sessions and doctor乌鸦传媒檚 appointments.

乌鸦传媒淚s school more important than my health?乌鸦传媒� she asks.

Triss said the school indicated that most of her absences were unexcused 乌鸦传媒� which usually means no one phoned in to inform the school or no doctor乌鸦传媒檚 notes were provided.

But Triss says she doesn乌鸦传媒檛 know ahead of time that she is going to suffer an attack.

乌鸦传媒淭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乌鸦传媒檛 go to the rest of my classes.

乌鸦传媒淎ll my teachers are supportive. They know I have a disability 乌鸦传媒� they see me every day. They know my struggle, but because the school board and everyone else doesn乌鸦传媒檛 see it 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 inside of me and you can乌鸦传媒檛 really see it on the outside 乌鸦传媒� they think it乌鸦传媒檚 all in my head.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淪he has been trained for anxiety and mobility issues.乌鸦传媒�

Triss乌鸦传媒� mother, Sarah, says the events of the last few weeks have taken a toll on her daughter.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 really tough what she乌鸦传媒檚 going through and it乌鸦传媒檚 making her anxieties worse.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淪he has already bought her outfit. It乌鸦传媒檚 sad that she can乌鸦传媒檛 go,乌鸦传媒� Sarah said.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 like they are punishing her 乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮�媒�

乌鸦传媒淔or having a disability,乌鸦传媒� says Triss, finishing her mom乌鸦传媒檚 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 乌鸦传媒渁ll very aware of the criteria乌鸦传媒� to attend prom.

乌鸦传媒淭hey are given many opportunities to resolve concerns and situations,乌鸦传媒� Wilson said.

He added that, as far as attendance is concerned, parents or students 乌鸦传媒渉ave a number of weeks乌鸦传媒� to call in to explain and excuse attendance issues.

乌鸦传媒淭he school is very flexible about making allowances and making accommodations and ways to resolve concerns and so on,乌鸦传媒� said Wilson, adding both sides have to work together in these situations.

Wilson also said the 乌鸦传媒減riority for prom, of course, is Grade 12 students.乌鸦传媒�