My New Year's Message to the BAM Community There are some great surprises in store that are very exciting, and some true landmark events and measures of progress that I will be absolutely thrilled to announce to you all! We've come such a long way since I started one small page back in 1997--back when there was absolutely nothing out there for those who suffered from this debilitating neurological disease, back there when those who suffered were isolated and spread out around the globe, each thinking they were truly alone. But there is so much more work to be done, so many more people to reach around the world who are scared, confused, and feeling like nobody else in the world understands how they suffer or how they feel. Many people still have no diagnosis, no neurologist, no treatment, no support network, no confidants, nobody who understands. Many are left without jobs, afraid they cannot care for their children or drive, left without income or insurance. As horrible as this disease can be, particularly before it is diagnosed and treated and the symptoms at least partly alleviated, only those who know it first-hand or who are close to those who live with it everyday can know how painful it is to also live with the uncertainty about tomorrow, the paralyzing fear, and the bottomless feeling of being isolated from the rest of humanity. (read more) UPDATE on BAM Forum Errors (December 2003) The BAM Forum database is currently having trouble. Our server company "unhooked" it from the program that runs it and has removed it from my database area for some reason. I am working to get them to restore it. Thanks for hanging in there with me! The BAM Page Newsletter (December 2003) The BAM page newsletter mailing list has been transferred over to a new site and there will be an announcement email sent out shortly to those of you who have been on various versions of the mailing lists and who have participated in the BAM Discussion Forum. This email will include information on the new mailing list, how to unsubscribe from the BAM mailing list, a URL to pass along to others whom you think would be interested in subscribing, and recent news of changes on The BAM Page and Forum. The BAM Forum and BAM Community One of the major changes, of course, is the new MySQL database-driven forum that's running php at the new Forum2000 site. It's already a hit and is loaded with new features and great user-friendly and intuitive interface that is making the BAM Community an even better place for all! Stop by and take a look when you get a moment, and sign up for your new free user account for full posting privileges to the members-only areas of the BAM and Complicated Migraine Forum. New and Updated Items (December 2003) * There are Two Kinds of Stroke, Stroke and Stroke Prevention Many more currently being created and revised--stay tuned! Coming Soon Look for a new online bookstore and reading room, deep discounts on health, medical, and other magazines, and book reviews. I'll be adding a "mailbag" feature, too, where I'll have a new section with excerpts from letters from BAM Page readers--patients, family, friends, and medical professionals (published anonymously unless requested otherwise). Keep a lookout for a new FAQ with your most common questions answered right here on The BAM Page, and much more! Be sure to sign up for the BAM Newsletter to get all the news about when and how it's all coming into place! New Privacy Statement Going Live (December 2003) I'm just about done with a very comprehensive new privacy statement that will be a part of this site shortly. Privacy is something that's on everyone's mind these days, and as The BAM Page is growing and becoming more and more well-known, it's time to get up there with the "big time" sites! Sign up for the BAM Page Newsletter to receive notification when the new statement is online.