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Topic: Ten Years tomorrow DJ (Read 1369 times) |
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Linda_Howell
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Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« on: Apr 10th, 2008, 2:34pm » |
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This was written 10 yrs. ago. at the start of clusterheadaches.com
Happy anniversary to DJ and to all of us. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for starting this. I can't even imagine how many people you've saved by doing so.
I remember when you had hair. lol
Linda
If you don't already know me, name is Daren (DJ) Johnson and I'm 38 years old. I am the webmaster/creator/owner/operator of this site. I am not a company, simply a cluster headache sufferer. A sufferer who was so tired of not being able find any information on the condition, decided to do something about it.
I am in the United States Air Force (16+ years), and currently live in Wichita, Kansas, stationed at McConnell AFB. I'm divorced and have no children.
I've been an episodic cluster headache sufferer since the age of 18 (wow, 19 years now! Feels like 40!). I usually have yearly cycles that last about three months. My headaches have only skipped two years, the 1996 and 1999 cycles (that was cool!). When my annual cycle started a few years ago (April 1st, 199 , I immediately got on the web to find out if there was any information that I could possibly use to help me cope with the upcoming three or so months. Much to my dismay, there was literally NO information out there! I couldn't believe it! I thought to myself, how hard could it be to build my own site?
On April 11th 1998, clusterheadaches.com was born.
I wasn't sure what to expect at first. I had never met another sufferer, but I knew there had to be others out there. Honestly, I expected to be talking to myself on the message board for quite some time. But, the hits started coming. Slowly, but surely. I spent every extra hour I had for several weeks researching how to get better positions in the search engines, since there were no other sites out there to link with. Still, slowly, the hits kept coming.
It's been over six years now. More than 3,000,000* people have visited the site, 11,000,000* hits total, and over 345,000* messages posted on the message board (* numbers as of Oct 21, 2004). I am TRULY amazed! If you only knew how many nights I've sat here, with tears streaming down my face, reading the messages from all of you. You have truly blessed my life! Like many of you have stated in messages, sometimes, the greatest feeling in the world is just knowing that someone else out there REALLY knows how you feel! That comfort, in itself, is absolutely priceless!
In some kind of awkward way, it kind of makes it that much easier when a co-worker finds out that you have a problem with headaches and says "yeah, I get REALLY BAD headaches too... it's so bad, I have to go lay down for a couple of hours till it goes away". You want to jab an ice pick in their temple, wiggle it around for a while, and say "really? Does it feel like this? No? Mine do! So don't talk to me about how bad off you have it! I'll tell you what, the next time a cluster wakes me up at 2 am, I'll give you a call and you can drive me to the hospital while I bash my head on your dashboard for a while!!!!". Sorry, I'm getting a little carried away here, hehehe.
The bottom line here is this. This site has been as much as a blessing to ME, as it has been to you. I sit here and cry as much as you do, trust me! Clusterheadaches.com was built for totally selfish reasons. I just needed a forum to share stories with something that has dominated nearly half of my life. Luckily, and thankfully, others have benefited from my needs. That, in itself, is worth every single penny I've ever spent, or ever will spend, to keep this site operating.
I get what seems like an email a day from people asking if they can help with the expense of this site. My answer has been the same since the site was opened the first week of April, 1998.
"Thank you VERY MUCH for your offer to help offset the costs of the site, however, this site was NOT built to make money..." blah, blah, blah.
This site is NOT about money!!! It's about sharing, it's about learning, it's about knowing we are not alone. Personally, just knowing there are others out there who suffer from this terrible curse, and I'm not crazy, is absolutely priceless to me! No amount of money could ever replace the sense of peace and comfort that this site has given me, and the THOUSANDS of other people from around the world since the site came online.
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| « Last Edit: Apr 10th, 2008, 2:36pm by Linda_Howell » |
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Kindness, is gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us.
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Paul98
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #1 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 2:49pm » |
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Happy anniversary to CH.COM 
And to DJ 
This place and the family that make it what it is 
-P.
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http://www.myspace.com/pjl98
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fubar
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #2 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 2:52pm » |
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10 years... incredible resource, what a great legacy!
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"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." -- Friedrich Nietzsche
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The mad viking
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #4 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 2:58pm » |
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A big salute to DJ
I bet you dont know or reqognize how many lives you have saved by starting ch.com my friend?
Its many of us that really owe you our lives
me included
Svenn & Bente
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Always Look on The Bright Side of Life
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wildhaus
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #5 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:05pm » |
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Thank you DJ,
from the bottom of my heart.
Michael
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Charlotte
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #6 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:12pm » |
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Thank you, DJ.
Charlotte
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Grandma_Sweet_Boy
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #7 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:13pm » |
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Thank God for DJ and his quest for information! Where would we all be without him and how wonderful that his story has now changed from "divorced and have no children" - to his current status of married with a wonderful wife and two adorable little boys.
Thank you DJ.
Carol
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LeLimey
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #8 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:16pm » |
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Happy Birthday Daddy! 
Thank you for my home and my family and my life.
Helen x
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The arsehole I'm divorcing needs to get a life and stop stalking mine
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Kevin_M
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #9 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:26pm » |
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Quote:| On April 11th 1998, clusterheadaches.com was born. |
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Quote:| I wasn't sure what to expect at first. |
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This baby has sprouted many hearts and minds now. Congratulations daddy.
and thanks.
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| « Last Edit: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:27pm by Kevin_M » |
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BMoneeTheMoneeMan
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #10 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:28pm » |
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Thanks, DJ.
L'Chaim!!
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"Fool me once, shame on, shame on you. Fool - can't get fooled again"
Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half the population is stupider than that.
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Gator
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #11 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:33pm » |
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Happy Anniversary Clusterheadaches.com and Thank You, DJ!
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chewy
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #12 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:35pm » |
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Way to go Zip!
Gotcha an anniversary gift.
You suck
Love Chewy.
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| « Last Edit: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:35pm by chewy » |
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Linda_Howell
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #13 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:41pm » |
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Besides the lives that have been saved, the pain that has been aborted through the knowledge here, and the international organizations that have sprouted up directly because of this site , think of the people who are now "couples" because of this place.
Den and Georgia
Thomas and Gena
Helen and Paul
Dave and Leesa
Donna and Steve (KOP)
Kirk and Chris
(I know there are more)
Not to mention all the life-time friendships that have been made.
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| « Last Edit: Apr 11th, 2008, 12:18pm by Linda_Howell » |
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Kindness, is gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us.
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nani
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #14 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 3:54pm » |
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Deej... not only have you done all of the above...
... but this place keeps the rest of the world safe from us crazies. You are a true superhero, dude.
Thank you, and Happy Anniversary.
hugs and love, nani
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Jackie
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #15 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 4:13pm » |
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Happy Anniversary to CH.com.
To DJ a huge and grateful thank you. The difference you have made for so many.....it's hard to grasp.
This has truely been an extraordinary undertaking and a monumental success.....strong bonds forged, life long friendships made, lives saved.
Much love to all....
Jackie
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gore2424
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #16 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 4:18pm » |
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WOW
Ten years
FIRST thank you DJ
I found out I wasnt alone
I have meet many friends
some in person (and more than once)
and thank you DJ again Ü
on May 18th I have 2 table's at one of the biggest "Sports Cards and Comic's Convention of the Midwest" just across the river only 20 minutes from home and after that I am going to donate 5% of my total sells from that show to show my thanks Ü
Terry ( the sell, sell, sell, GUY )
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what the hamsalad was that ¿?¿
I said your hair looks nice Ü
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Redd
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #17 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 4:33pm » |
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All I can say is,
...oh and you need to change your discription to married with a family... 
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Rosybabe
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #18 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 4:35pm » |
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Happy Birthday CH.com!!
Thank You DJ!!
Rosy.
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Annette
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #19 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 5:09pm » |
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Thank you DJ and Steph too
I guess you never thought it would save peoples lives from all over the world including those from as far away as Ozzieland huh ?
Love ya all 
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barry_sword
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #20 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 5:27pm » |
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Happy 10th anniversary CH.com. I am one of those people in which CH.com has saved and changed my life, for the better!
Thanks DJ!  You the man!!!
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Jackie
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #21 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 5:47pm » |
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And one more thing DJ has brought to this extended family.....a beautiful wife and precious children. 
Steph...we love you all.......thank you, Sweetie....
Jackie
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Mosaicwench
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #23 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 6:06pm » |
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Happy Anniversary!
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The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter. ~Author Unknown
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alchemy
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Re: Ten Years tomorrow DJ
« Reply #24 on: Apr 10th, 2008, 6:07pm » |
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Thankyou DJ!!!!!!!!!!!
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