You’ve witnessed the strength, love, and vulnerability that defined Tanner Martin’s public battle with cancer. Now, you’re faced with the heartbreaking reality that his journey has come to an end. On June 25, Tanner’s wife Shay Wright shared that he passed away at the age of 30, just 41 days after the birth of their daughter.
His passing marks the close of a five-year journey with stage 4 colon cancer, a battle he openly documented from the moment he was diagnosed at age 25. What began as a fight for survival evolved into something much deeper—an effort to connect, to inspire, and to leave something meaningful behind for the people he loved most.
Final Message Tanner
You didn’t just hear the news—you watched it. Shay Wright shared a pre-recorded video on Instagram, one that Tanner filmed himself for this exact moment. “Hey, it’s me, Tanner, if you’re watching this, I am dead,” he said with a calm that could only come from someone who had made peace with the inevitable.
“I had a heck of a life,” he continued, speaking directly to you and to the thousands who followed his every update. Tanner explained why he recorded the message: he wanted to get all his thoughts out while he still could. He had seen someone else do it and believed it was a meaningful way to leave something behind, especially for Shay.
Facing Death with Humor, Hope, and a Love That Transcends Time
You felt the sincerity in Tanner’s voice as he expressed gratitude and hope. “But you guys, life was awesome. I really enjoyed it while I was here,” he said with heartfelt honesty. Even in those final moments, he managed to bring levity, saying, “Hopefully, I believe there’s something after this.
I’m excited to meet those people, and hopefully we’re hanging out now and making fun of all you nerds.” He went on to name family members who had passed before him, imagining joyful reunions free from pain. “Death is scary, but it’s also like a new adventure, you know,” he said with striking clarity. That was Tanner: unflinchingly real, even in the face of the unknown.
Gratitude to a Community
You played a role in Tanner’s life—whether you knew him personally or only through a screen. He didn’t let his final message end without expressing that. “I love you guys, and seriously, thanks again for all your support and helping to make the last years of my life here on earth like fun and enjoyable and helping me be comfortable,” he said.
His words reminded you that even though his body was failing, his spirit remained bright, bolstered by the love and encouragement of the community that had formed around him and Shay.
A Widow’s Tribute—and a Wish That Lives On
You saw Shay’s caption beneath the video: “May the force be with you from our angel force ghost🤍 see the next video for his wish.” That next post wasn’t just sentimental—it was purposeful. In it, Tanner revealed his last wish: to help provide for his wife and daughter through donations made via GoFundMe.
In those final moments, he was thinking of their future. He was no longer fighting for his own life, but for the lives of those he would leave behind. It was a plea you couldn’t ignore, one more way he turned heartbreak into hope.
Welcoming a New Life as Another One Fades
You might remember the joy that came on May 15 when Tanner and Shay announced the arrival of their baby girl. “She’s here,” they wrote, alongside a tender photo of them cradling their newborn in a hospital bed.
That single moment encapsulated so much—life, love, resilience, and the cruel timing of a world that gave Tanner fatherhood only weeks before taking him away. It was a full-circle moment that added even more emotional weight to everything they had shared online since his diagnosis.
Community You Helped Build with Them Was Real—and It Endures
You were part of something intimate, something raw and unfiltered. Since November 2020, Tanner and Shay welcomed you into their lives, documenting each treatment, every milestone, and the many ups and downs in between.
When they announced in November 2024 that they were expecting their first child, you felt their joy. Over the years, you watched as Tanner maintained a sense of humor and optimism, often posting updates that balanced brutal honesty with tender moments of love and connection.
Tanner’s Final Health Update Was About More Than Cancer
You may have seen one of his last videos, posted on May 11, just days before the birth of his daughter. His voice, hoarse from chemotherapy, was unmistakably his. “Just thought I’d hop on here and give you guys a quick update,” he began, his energy low but his spirit intact. “The chemo makes me really hoarse, so I sound like a different me.
But I’m doing okay, just tired.” Then came the joyful tease: “Guess what’s happening. Guess who arrives in six days.” He held up two tiny baby slippers, his eyes lighting up. It was a moment that showed how deeply fatherhood meant to him.
Before wrapping the video, he said, “I stop my chemo for a week tomorrow because it’s three weeks on, one week off. Very excited for that… anyways, that’s my update. Love you,” he said, blowing kisses to the camera. It was a goodbye—you just didn’t know it yet.
– Text continues below the video –
From One Life to the Next—Tanner’s Legacy Lives Through You
You’re not just a bystander in this story. You’re a witness to a life lived with courage, humor, and unshakable love. Tanner Martin may be gone, but the community he built, the love he shared, and the hope he offered to others fighting similar battles will never fade.
Whether you knew him personally or followed his story from afar, the impact remains. It’s not just about the end of one journey—it’s about the legacy of strength and love that continues through Shay, their daughter, and everyone who carries his memory forward.
