In the US, there are 12 million pediatric patients – children and adolescents – suffering from one or more chronic diseases. Of those, over 1.5 million will need to be hospitalized at least once before the age of 18. During their hospital stay, these patients are often isolated for long periods of time resulting in limited opportunity to interact with others within the hospital as well as friends and family outside the hospital. This lack of interaction is critical as studies have shown that loneliness and isolation can hinder a patient's emotional and social development,and ultimately, negatively impact recovery time and mental health.