A Mission teenager who suffers from a chronic illness has been told she canB次元官网网址檛 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. ItB次元官网网址檚 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 donB次元官网网址檛 think the decision is fair.

B次元官网网址淢y grades are not perfect, because I do miss a lot of school. But IB次元官网网址檓 getting passing grades. IB次元官网网址檓 passing all my classes, but for prom, itB次元官网网址檚 just the attendance,B次元官网网址� 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 isnB次元官网网址檛 fair and wonders if she was supposed to miss her therapy sessions and doctorB次元官网网址檚 appointments.

B次元官网网址淚s school more important than my health?B次元官网网址� she asks.

Triss said the school indicated that most of her absences were unexcused B次元官网网址� which usually means no one phoned in to inform the school or no doctorB次元官网网址檚 notes were provided.

But Triss says she doesnB次元官网网址檛 know ahead of time that she is going to suffer an attack.

B次元官网网址淭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 canB次元官网网址檛 go to the rest of my classes.

B次元官网网址淎ll my teachers are supportive. They know I have a disability B次元官网网址� they see me every day. They know my struggle, but because the school board and everyone else doesnB次元官网网址檛 see it B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 inside of me and you canB次元官网网址檛 really see it on the outside B次元官网网址� they think itB次元官网网址檚 all in my head.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淪he has been trained for anxiety and mobility issues.B次元官网网址�

TrissB次元官网网址� mother, Sarah, says the events of the last few weeks have taken a toll on her daughter.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really tough what sheB次元官网网址檚 going through and itB次元官网网址檚 making her anxieties worse.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淪he has already bought her outfit. ItB次元官网网址檚 sad that she canB次元官网网址檛 go,B次元官网网址� Sarah said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like they are punishing her B次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淔or having a disability,B次元官网网址� says Triss, finishing her momB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渁ll very aware of the criteriaB次元官网网址� to attend prom.

B次元官网网址淭hey are given many opportunities to resolve concerns and situations,B次元官网网址� Wilson said.

He added that, as far as attendance is concerned, parents or students B次元官网网址渉ave a number of weeksB次元官网网址� to call in to explain and excuse attendance issues.

B次元官网网址淭he school is very flexible about making allowances and making accommodations and ways to resolve concerns and so on,B次元官网网址� said Wilson, adding both sides have to work together in these situations.

Wilson also said the B次元官网网址減riority for prom, of course, is Grade 12 students.B次元官网网址�