What began as a simple getaway near family eventually became something far more meaningful for Pamela Abrahamse, Marco Island became a place of healing, community, inspiration, and home.

After her husband’s brother and wife purchased a place near Marco Island, they encouraged Pamela and her husband to spend more time in the area. In 2009, they decided to buy a place of their own, imagining it as a peaceful escape from their northern home. But over time, short visits turned into extended stays, and Marco Island slowly became part of their everyday lives.

“I remember coming over the bridge — only two lanes at the time — and the view was unforgettable,” Pamela recalls. “We were hooked.”

From the very beginning, Pamela fell in love with the natural beauty of the island. An avid photographer, she spent countless mornings walking Tigertail Beach, capturing Marco’s wildlife, sunsets, and peaceful scenery through her lens. One of her favorite subjects quickly became the island’s famous burrowing owls.

“I definitely remember the first time I saw one,” she says. “I couldn’t believe they were real. Even now, I still find them fascinating.”

For years, Marco Island was a beloved vacation destination filled with beaches, wildlife, dining, and relaxation. But in 2019, it became something much more personal and important to Pamela.

Photo Credit: Pamela Abrahamse

How Parkinson’s Led to a Life-Changing Community in Marco Island

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2013, Pamela eventually joined Rock Steady Boxing at the YMCA on Marco Island, a fitness program specifically designed for people living with Parkinson’s. What she found there changed her life completely.

The intense exercise program, paired with encouragement from Coach Jane and the close-knit Marco Island community, became a source of strength, hope, and transformation during one of the most difficult chapters of her life.

“I owe so much to this class and especially Coach Jane, who pours her heart and soul into every class,” Pamela says. “Without her encouragement, dedication, and commitment, I hate to think of where I — and many others — would be.”

Pamela says the program has dramatically improved her quality of life, with some fellow participants even referring to her as “The Poster Child” of Rock Steady Boxing. Her story is not only inspiring because of the challenges she faces, but because of the positivity and gratitude she continues to carry through it all.

“If you have to have PD,” she says, “Marco Island is the place to be.”

Photo Credit: Pamela Abrahamse

Fifteen Years of Change, One Constant Love for Marco Island

Over the past 15 years, Pamela has watched Marco Island change and grow, from the expansion of the bridge to the increase in visitors and restoration projects following hurricanes. Yet despite those changes, the island’s beauty and sense of community continue to draw her back year after year.

When she leaves Marco, she misses far more than the sunshine and scenery. She misses the people, the support system she’s built, and the routine that has become such an important part of her life.

Now, Pamela looks forward to sharing Marco Island with her young granddaughter, hoping she too will one day fall in love with the wildlife, beaches, and quiet beauty that have meant so much to her.

As Pamela beautifully puts it: “There is beauty everywhere just waiting to be noticed, and I hope to be able to capture that beauty for many years to come.”