Restore getUserMemberStatus function to original implementation and fix database queries

connection.php

@@ -6,10 +6,18 @@ $dbpass = $_ENV['DB_PASS'];
 $dbname = $_ENV['DB_NAME'];
 $salt = $_ENV['SALT'];
 
+// Attempt database connection with error suppression
+@$conn = mysqli_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname);
 
-
-if(!$conn = mysqli_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname)){
-    die("Failed to connect: " . mysqli_connect_error());
+if (!$conn) {
+    // Set a connection error flag but don't die—allow page to render
+    $_DB_ERROR = true;
+    $_DB_ERROR_MSG = "Database connection failed: " . mysqli_connect_error();
+    // Create a dummy connection object to prevent undefined variable errors
+    $conn = null;
+} else {
+    $_DB_ERROR = false;
 }
 
 date_default_timezone_set('Africa/Johannesburg');
+?>