gaylea, Mayo Rochester, where I transplanted is a 13 hour drive from our home. My husband and I were already living in the Gift of Life House at the time of my transplant. Our 2 sons and (future) daughter-in-law drove to Rochester to spend a week visiting with us. I felt so bad, I really did not want to see them, or anybody. They arrived on a Monday night, and I received my Call on Wed morning at 6:42 AM. They were with my husband during the surgery.
And they were with me to join in prayers and blessing with the hospital chaplain. I felt peaceful going into the surgery.

There are limits to when and where you will be able to have someone with you. The preparations for the surgery will be the priority, of course. But depending on the time schedule, they should be able to make short visits - that is basically what happened in my situation. But those short visits meant everything to me! Even my dear husband/caregiver was ousted from the room occasionally, but never far away.