Hello colleagues, residents, students, friends and guests. Well I guess you are wondering why there has been such a long absence. Well here is the answer. I fell victim to one of the occupational hazards of being a surgeon. I sustained a needle stick in the OR while operating on a patient who was positive for HIV as well as Hepatitis C. I have just recently finished my prophylaxis with the triple drug cocktail for prophylaxis. Let me give you a first hand report. The drug regimen is a real wipe out. What side effects did I suffer = nausea, constant abdominal pain, weakness, tiredness, and headache. So let me remind everyone to always be careful about OR needle safety. The critical opinion question you are all wondering about is when will you know the outcome. Well folks it will be a very long year. However, now that the drug part is over, I am definitely feeling better. So, I shall very soon be back to my regular postings here on the Joy of Surgery. All my best. JTE.