Kaeley Pearce, a senior at West High was born on April 10th, 2007. Sixteen short hours after her father passed away. Managing the loss of her father was hard for Pearce. She began her dancing journey at only 7 years old. A way to express her emotions and the grief that came with losing a loved one in a form of physical and mental activity. 

Pearce is involved in her third year on the West High dance team. While trying other extracurriculars, Pearce says that dance has always come first. Trying different studios and taking a break from her own team has shown Pearce discipline, time management and confidence.

On Jan. 15, 2025 Pearce performed her final high school solo at the West High Dance Showcase. Pearce brought emotion and sensation to the crowd moving the room to tears. Pearce dedicated her solo to her late father Andrew. “Ashes” was choreographed by her coach Jensen Steinbronn who helped make sure Pearce’s vision came to life.

“While we were creating the dance we talked about emotions that I want to express because the ultimate goal was to inspire others, tell my story, honor my dad but also to have an outlet for me and my emotions,” Pearce says.

Up until the showcase Pearce had never performed with a photo of her father let alone a prop of any kind, this simple yet heartfelt commemoration of Andrew brought Pearce to tears saying,

“I’ve never cried on stage in my 10 years of dancing because that is what you are taught, the show must go on no matter what- but I was feeling the emotions so heavily that I couldn’t help it and I think I not only touched but inspired many many people who are also going through such an unfortunate loss.”

Leah Kalsem a West High senior and 4 year dance team returner has watched Pearce improve over the years, from teammate to friend Kalsem says,

“Kaeley has never let her dads passing tear her down, she’s heavily motivated by her dad and always lets him know that she’s doing big things on earth in his honor of him and it is truly inspiring. she’s one of strongest people I know and I am so proud of how far she has come.”

Andrew Pearce, a West High alumni who graduated in the spring of 2002 was a compassionate, considerate and diligent father. Before Andrews’ passing, he worked two jobs to support Pearce and her mother.

Shortly after an unforeseen wave of fatigue would hit Andrew and stop his work efforts. 

Dozens of hospital visits would follow this sudden increase in tiredness and exhaustion. Andrew would be diagnosed with pneumonia, an infection that inflames both lungs and may cause an overflow of fluid and pus in your air-ways.

Andrew’s family would soon find out that he had Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a condition that occurs when the body produces too many abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. A diagnosis that was found out too late. Andrew would lose his life to an untreated misdiagnosis and the mistreatment from hospital staff.

Andrews passing did not only affect Pearce. Andrew was a beloved father, a son, a brother and an uncle. Michelle Medhaug, Pearce’s grandmother and Andrews mother has dealt with the unimaginable grief that comes with losing a child.

“As his passing was a devastating and complete surprise, he gave me a gift to carry on. I was at a sudden shock, numb to life. Something no mom or parents should face. Coping was a challenge, I was very blessed and fortunate to have Kaeley with me. She looks like him, she laughs, like him, a part of him beats inside of her heart,” Medhaug says.

Medhaug is one of Pearces biggest supporters saying, “Kaeley has been my inspiration to be the grandma I was gifted to be. To show her unconditional love, to turn a tragedy into a testimony. Throughout her young life, Kaeley has a gift. She is soft spoken, has a big heart, and has dedication without any reserve. Kaeley has a drive. To say I’m proud of her is completely accurate and admirable. Little does she know just how much she has helped me to be strong, courageous, and completely vulnerable at times, too.”

After high school Pearce plans to attend Hawkeye Community College to study Police science and join their dance team. Pearce received a $1500 scholarship to become a retail dancer and plans to continue her passion throughout college.

When Pearce was asked how she has been able to cope with the loss of her father she said,“I feel like grief is something that never goes away, and I also think that coping is almost impossible when you go through a loss like this. I wouldn’t say that I ever coped with the situation, I more so just adapted to it.”

The sudden loss of a parent is an unimaginable type of grief and Pearce has pushed herself to use her story as a way to show others what they are capable of even while mourning a loss. Pearce is dancing for a purpose, she is dancing for her dad.