Tanner Martin, 30, recorded a heartfelt message for his followers before passing away from cancer
Tanner Martin, a beloved influencer who courageously documented his battle with stage four colon cancer, has shared a heartbreaking pre-recorded video announcing his own passing. The emotional message was posted just weeks after he and his wife, Shay Wright, welcomed their first child, daughter AmyLou.
Tanner was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 2020 at just 25 years old. Since then, he built a strong and supportive community of over 548,000 Instagram followers, openly sharing his journey through treatment, hope, and resilience.
In a video uploaded to the couple’s shared Instagram account on June 25, Tanner addressed his followers one last time with warmth and honesty.
“Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I am dead,” he began, with a gentle smile.
Tanner explained that he decided to film his own death announcement after seeing someone else do the same and feeling it was a meaningful way to leave final thoughts.
“Life was awesome,” he said. “I really enjoyed it while I was here.”
Remaining optimistic, Tanner expressed his hope that there’s something beyond this life and shared his excitement at the possibility of reuniting with loved ones who had passed.
“I’m excited to see them not in pain and just happy. I’m really excited to see my Uncle Dave. He gave the best hugs—I’m looking forward to that embrace again.”
While acknowledging the fear that can come with death, he also viewed it as a new journey.
“Death is scary, but it’s also like a new adventure… I’m kind of excited for it—not in a harmful way, but just curious about what’s next.”
Tanner ended the message with deep gratitude for his followers:
“Thank you for making the last years of my life fun, enjoyable, and comfortable.”
In the video caption, Shay paid tribute to her husband, writing:
“May the force be with you from our angel force ghost 🤍 See the next video for his wish.”
In a follow-up post, Shay revealed Tanner’s final wish: to support his family’s future. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help provide financial stability for Shay and baby AmyLou. [You can donate here.]
Supporters quickly filled the comments section with tributes to Tanner’s legacy:
“The most special human. Rest in peace sweet Tanner,” one person wrote.
“Heaven just gained the best angel,” said another.
One follower offered comfort to Shay, writing:
“His spirit will always live on. You now have the most amazing guardian angel.”
Tanner’s courage, humor, and love left an indelible mark on those who followed his story. Though his life was tragically short, his message of hope and gratitude will continue to inspire many.
