@nhlbob Well, on behalf of Mayo-Rochester let me welcome you to the Clinic. I spent 4 months there during my SCT and recovery along with return trips. It’s a wonderful city and the Clinic is like no other. I know you’re going to be in great hands! You’ll be pretty impressed with the level of care and concern, and how everything runs so seamlessly!

There are a number of conversations on Connect with other members about visiting Mayo-Rochester for the first time which you might find interesting. Ideas for restaurants, sights to see, etc.
Here is the link to the Visiting Mayo Clinic group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traveling-to-mayo-clinic/

Along with that, I’ve posted a link to discussions on how to get off to the best start with a new specialist and a visitor guide for preparing to make the most of your first appointment.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/your-tips-on-how-to-get-off-to-the-best-start-with-a-new-specialist/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-appointment
Do you have your patient portal account set up with Mayo? It will be your go-to for all your information about appointments, where they are located, how to prepare for them. It also posts all your lab results, letters and notes from doctors and other providers, health records, etc.
If you have an early lab appointment, I suggest going 1/2 hour early for this if you have other appointments right after the labs. The lab is a super busy place and can get little jammed up early in the morning. But everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
All of the buildings are connected with great signage for directions. There are also tons of volunteers (in Blue Jackets) to give you directions or answer questions. If you stay on the Sub Level, marked S on the elevator, all of the main buildings are contiguously linked and easy to go from Mayo-Gonda-Charlton buildings.
Here’s a map of the Rochester Campus https://mcforms.mayo.edu/mc1600-mc1699/mc1663-55.pdf?_ga=2.128046028.1155008562.1642545706-1992796757.1642545706

You asked if I knew of anyone with MCL that hasn’t needed a transplant…this is out of my area of experience so I can’t really answer. It’s a good question for your hematologist/oncologist. You might also ask if you do need one if it will be an autologous transplant using your own cells or an allogenic transplant using a donor’s cells. But again, this is a bridge to cross at a later date! You may respond well to treatment and not require one ☺️

This next 2 weeks will go by quickly. Anything else I can help you with?