@melinda7 Thanks! I guess I should tell you that I walked into my first appointment with a painting of mine. I had gotten so used to being turned down, that I thought I needed to convince the surgeon to help me and show him what I needed to be able to do. I was loosing my ability to control my arms which affected my ability to be an artist. I also used my painting as a mental escape during some painful neurological testing. Dr. Fogelson was pretty down to earth and I told him it would help me with my fear as a way that I could be familiar with him because I only draw or paint things I like, so it made sense. It was my mind game for myself and it kept me from focusing on fears of surgery. After I recovered, and I wanted to paint him, I talked to his nurse about it, and she thought he would like it. He was a really good sport about it, and he was very entertaining while I took some reference photos during a followup appointment. I'm honored that he trusted me to do this. I also brought another watercolor portrait I had done to the followup/photo appointment and I told him what I wanted to do and place him in front of the historic Plummer building. He didn't choose a photo from the bunch I sent to him, so it really was a surprise to him when I returned with the finished portrait at my one year post surgical followup. He was pretty excited about it, and I'm sure it was something he'd never received from a patient before. You can see a photo from that appointment on the first page of this discussion:

- Art for Healing
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/art-for-healing/

I do hope you can find what you need at Mayo and that you will be able to work out your appointment needs. You might want to contact Mayo's free Concierge service about affordable accommodations if you need to stay a few weeks;

Five Ways to Contact Mayo Concierge Services

Phone: 507-538-8438
Live Chat: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide
Email: concierge@mayo.edu
Web form: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/becoming-a-patient/concierge-travel-services
In-person in Rochester MN: Lobby hours are 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday. Offices are located in the International Center in the Mayo Mathew’s Lobby, Executive Lounge on Mayo 5, Radiation Oncology Lobby – Desk R

You can also contact @lmindela, here on Connect. He works for the Concierge Service in Rochester.