Tanner Martin was a loving husband and devoted father – and a huge influencer who let us follow him on his fight against cancer.
Sadly, he didn’t make it and passed away at just 30.
He became world-famous when he recorded a now-viral video announcing his own death.
The widow of beloved influencer Tanner Martin is now opening up about her late husband’s health battle, giving fans new insight into the man who shared his life, and his fight – so openly online.
Tanner, who documented his journey with colon cancer, passed away in June 2025 at home in Utah, surrounded by family.
In a heartbreaking yet courageous final message, posted to the couple’s shared Instagram account, Tanner spoke directly to the camera: “Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I am dead.” He recorded the video in advance as a way to offer clarity, comfort, and gratitude to the many people who had followed his journey.
A young father taken too soon
Tanner was just 25 when he was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020. Even though doctors initially thought Tanner’s cancer might be at an early stage, given his young age, scans revealed it was stage 4 and had already spread to his liver.
Over the next four years, he endured multiple rounds of treatment, surgeries, and chemotherapy.
Despite periods of remission, the cancer returned in 2021 and eventually became terminal. Throughout it all, he and his wife, Shay, shared moments of joy online, including their IVF journey and the birth of their daughter, AmyLou, in May.
True to his personality, Tanner often joked about his own mortality, using humor as a way to cope with the shock. Shay’s father, Steve Wright, remembers Tanner as a man whose kindness and humor never faded. His vibrant spirit and genuine kindness endeared him to everyone he encountered.
“He made you feel like you’re the most important person in the room,” Wright told Good Morning America. “Even when he was super sick, he wanted to just be very real.”
The first warning signs
Tanner and his wife Shay first met when he was serving as a missionary in Mesa, Arizona, and she was just 17.
They reconnected after Shay had completed her own missionary service, and their friendship quickly blossomed into a romantic relationship within a few months. The couple tied the knot after about nine months together, with Shay at 22 and Tanner at 23.
On a recent appearance on The Unplanned Podcast, Shay spoke publicly for the first time about Tanner’s earliest symptoms, which appeared long before anyone suspected cancer.
Tanner began experiencing digestive issues in the summer of 2020, including trouble sitting and blood in his stool, which prompted multiple visits to doctors.
“He began dealing with persistent bowel and stomach issues,” Shay explained.
“We initially assumed they were minor or stress-related.” She added that Tanner also struggled with discomfort when sitting for long periods, a detail that only made sense after doctors identified the tumor.
A colonoscopy revealed a large tumor blocking his colon.
“I remember sitting in the hospital with Tanner. He was coming off anesthesia, and you know he’s always a little goofy, but this time it was different. The doctor comes in, pulls up a chair, puts his hand on Tanner’s leg, and says, ‘Do you go by Tanner?’ And I’m thinking, ‘This is… weird.’ Tanner, still groggy, nods, ‘Yeah, I go by Tanner.’ The doctor says, ‘Okay… we weren’t able to complete the colonoscopy. About 10 centimeters in, there was a huge mass. We couldn’t get past it.’ I was in shock, and then I just started crying, because when you hear ‘tumor,’ you immediately think cancer. Tanner was stunned — took him a little while before he even started crying,” Shay said.
Further tests confirmed stage 4 cancer with spread to the liver. Tanner underwent at least six major surgeries, around 40 minor procedures under anesthesia, more than 50 rounds of chemotherapy, and 11 weeks of radiation.
The cost of treatment was staggering — estimated at $3 million in one year — but insurance covered most of it, leaving them with only about $5,000 in co-pays during their best insurance year, Shay shared during the interview.
Even in hospice, Tanner remained strong-willed, refusing to stay still and wanting to be fully present until the very end. He created a TikTok video sharing insights on how to support someone with a terminal illness, which went viral and resonated deeply with viewers. Tanner passed away at home, surrounded by family and loved ones, after his breathing changed and he took his final breaths.
His funeral was streamed live, watched by over 31,000 people during the ceremony and roughly 54,000 in total.
In his prerecorded farewell, Tanner thanked his supporters for helping make his final years “fun and enjoyable,” despite the immense challenges of treatment. He ended with a heartfelt message encouraging empathy and compassion:
“Be kind to each other, assume good intent in other people, and you guys will just have a happy life.”
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a big health concern in the U.S., with about 154,000 new cases expected in 2025. It’s the third most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women.
Today, Shay continues to honor her husband’s legacy, sharing his story to raise awareness about early warning signs and inspire others to advocate for their health.
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