Finding Hope Through Art At Webco Manor

Published 5:45 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026

For Debra “Debbie” Short, art has always been a part of her life. But over the past couple of years, it’s become something much more.

It’s helped her heal, given her a reason to keep moving forward, and allowed her to share a little happiness with others along the way.

At 67, Debbie has been through more than most people could imagine. She’s lost her husband, her son, and her home. She’s also faced serious health problems that left her unable to walk.

But spend a little time talking with her, and you’ll quickly discover someone who hasn’t given up on life.

In fact, she’s busy helping others find a little joy through painting, sculpting, and just about anything else involving creativity.

Debbie has lived at Webco Manor in Marshfield for about two and a half years. And according to administrator Kenna Morris, she’s made quite an impression.

“She’s doing well and getting ready to go home,” Morris said.

During her stay, Debbie has become involved in numerous activities, including painting, sculpting, and helping create decorations for the facility’s parade float.

But her story began long before she arrived in Marshfield.

Originally from Missouri, Debbie grew up in St. Louis and Kansas City. In 1977, her high school selected her for a pilot graphic arts program.

That opportunity helped launch a lifelong love of art.

She remembers working in graphic design back when projects were done by hand, using light tables and the old cut-and-paste method.

Over the years, she’s tackled just about every kind of artistic project imaginable. She’s also worked as a wedding planner and taken on plenty of unusual jobs.

“My friends say I ought to open a business called One of a Kind,” she laughed.

And judging by what she’s doing today, that name might fit.

At Webco Manor, Debbie has helped turn art into something residents look forward to.

She teaches painting classes and encourages others to try projects they might never have considered before.

At first, she said, some residents weren’t interested in painting.

Now, they’re excited when class time rolls around.

“People who are introverts become extroverts when they’re down there,” Debbie said. “They’re learning to talk.”

She especially enjoys watching friendships develop as residents work together.

One recent project involved creating a Statue of Liberty sculpture. Debbie said about seven women became involved, and some were so excited they wanted to work on it both morning and afternoon.

“What’s fun for me is seeing the chattering and the camaraderie among the people,” she said. “It gives them hope, and it gives them something to look forward to.”

But Debbie’s own journey at Webco Manor hasn’t been easy.

When she first arrived, she couldn’t walk. She needed a mechanical lift just to get out of bed.

Doctors weren’t optimistic about her recovery.

Debbie, however, had other plans.

“I told the doctor, I’m going to walk out of here when I leave,” she recalled.

Even when she couldn’t stand, she insisted on getting into a wheelchair so she could go downstairs and paint.

During her first year at Webco Manor, she painted more than 90 items for a craft fair. The items were sold, raising money through the event.

Little by little, she began making physical progress.

Today, Debbie says she’s walking again. Maybe not the way she once did, but well enough that she’s preparing to return home.

“I’ve learned to walk again,” she said. “I’m not walking as you would walk, but I’m walking enough that I can go home.”

Along the way, though, Debbie faced a heartbreaking loss.

While she was living at Webco Manor, her house burned to the ground. Her son died in the fire.

The tragedy also destroyed belongings and memories collected over 41 years of marriage.

Debbie had already experienced the loss of her husband. Losing her son and home left her wondering how she could possibly move forward.

She remembers two aides and a physical therapist coming to comfort her.

They climbed into bed beside her and refused to let her give up.

“They said, ‘You can cry, and you can scream, and you can shout, and you can pout, but you are not going to lie in this bed and get depressed.'”

Those words, and the people behind them, made a difference.

Debbie doesn’t pretend the grief has disappeared. She still misses her husband and son, and she knows those losses will always be part of her life.

But she also believes she has a reason to keep going.

“The people here have given me everything I need to keep moving forward and not get stuck in grief,” she said.

For Debbie, staying busy and working with art have been a big part of that process.

And now, as she prepares for life beyond Webco Manor, she’s already thinking about her next project.

She’s planning a podcast called Don’t Hang Up That Phone.

The idea is to bring together the wisdom of older generations with the experiences of younger people.

Debbie hopes to discuss everything from sewing and knitting to handling grief, becoming a widow, and finding purpose later in life.

She says younger generations have plenty to teach older adults, too, especially about technology.

The podcast’s name comes from the days of old telephone party lines, when conversations could connect people in unexpected ways.

“Don’t hang up that phone. You might miss something,” she explained.

It’s another way Debbie hopes to encourage others, something she’s been doing throughout her stay at Webco Manor.

A mother of three adult children, grandmother of five and soon-to-be great-grandmother, Debbie says she’s looking forward to the next chapter.

She also hopes to continue sharing her artistic talents and helping people discover abilities they didn’t know they had.

For Morris and the staff at Webco Manor, Debbie’s determination has been something special to witness.

And for Debbie, the experience has meant far more than rehabilitation.

It’s been about friendship, finding purpose, and learning that even after tremendous loss, there can still be something worth looking forward to.

“I could have laid in bed and got depressed,” she said. “I could have never chosen to walk again.”

Instead, she picked up a paintbrush, kept working toward recovery, and helped others find a little happiness along the way.

And now, she’s getting ready to walk into the next chapter of her life.