By hearing the perspective of others, qualitative research gives context to relationships, systems, and the people who interact with circumstances unfamiliar to our own. This dissertation looks at two systems and tries to understand how they work together from the perspective of families on a medical unit in a pediatric hospital. At the center, is the chronically ill student/patient who experiences each system extensively. These students spend equal time between their home school and the hospital for treatment, and are understudied. Because these students are unique, their experiences are essential to recommend policy and collaboration between school and hospital.