Nothing could stop teenager Erin Condrin of Queensland, Australia from attending her school's prom, so she made extra preparations that included her service dog, Lacey, as her prom date. She even made sure that they went to the dance wearing matching dresses.
There were some considerations to make before Condrin could go to the dance because she has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). It's a debilitating condition that makes her joints weak and her skin fragile. She acquired Lacey from the Canine Helpers Australia in the middle of 2015 to help her get by and the two have since become inseparable.
To prepare for the formal, the teenager had her dressmaker create Lacey's own prom skirt, which wouldn't be a problem since the dog is used to wearing dresses. "Lacey has many different costumes," Condrin said. "So it was natural she'd have a dress that matched mine." The dressmaker used the same material from Condrin's dress for Lacey.
Apart from preparing Lacey's dress, Condrin planned in advance so that her prom night proceeds without any hitches. "To make the night possible, we designed a dress from scratch to suit a wheelchair, hired a ramp to take to the venue, organized medications around the events, and more," she shared.
On the night of the prom, the teenager and her service dog prepared together and it seemed like Lacey enjoyed the whole process. Condrin shared their photo on her Life With Lacey Facebook page.
The connection I have with this dog is beyond words ❤️
Posted by Life with Lacey on Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Best night at our year 12 formal... More photos to come! ❤️
Posted by Life with Lacey on Saturday, March 5, 2016
However, when it was finally time to hit the dance venue, Condrin decided that a photo opportunity with their matching dresses was the only thing she and Lacey would enjoy for now. While she has been working side by side her dog for months, she wasn't sure how Lacey would react in a crowded event.
"I didn't feel ready to take her to an event with a massive crowd and so many flashing lights," the girl remarked. "I can't wait to take her to formal events in the future, though."
However, Condrin wanted to show the public that someone with her condition can still enjoy the highlights of a teenager's life and she knows Lacey is a big part of it. "Being a young disabled person can be daunting," Condrin said. "But facing the world with an adorable fluffball by my side makes it so much easier."
