Brave content creator Tanner Martin has said goodbye to his followers on social media just days after becoming a dad, saying he was excited to see what new adventures the afterlife had in store for him
The arrival of a first baby should be one of the happiest times in a couple’s life. But when Tanner Martin and Shay Wright welcomed their daughter AmyLou the moment was surely bittersweet, for the influencer was nearing the end of his five year journey with colorectal cancer.
Tanner, 30, died just over a month after the arrival of his bundle of joy and in an unusual step, he delivered the news of his passing himself in a pre-recorded video. Smiling at the camera in the footage posted by wife Shay, the content creator said: “Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I am dead.”
With a laugh to soften the news, Tanner bravely added: “I had a heck of a life. I decided to make this video announcing my death because I saw someone did that, like, a year or so ago, and I think it’s a good opportunity to get all your thoughts out.
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Signs of Tanner’s condition were evident in the video, with his voice weak and raspy. But his words were filled with positivity, with the influencer saying: “You guys, life was awesome. I really enjoyed it while I was here.
“Hopefully, I believe there’s something after this,” he continued. “I’m excited to meet those people, and hopefully we’re hanging out now and making fun of all you nerds. There’s just a lot of people that for the afterlife, I’m excited to see them, and excited to see them not in pain and just happy.”
Knowing that the end was approaching, Tanner spent his final days soldiering through treat
ment and spending precious moments with his newborn.
On May 11, he told his Instagram followers: “Just thought I’d hop on here and give you guys a quick update,” he began in the clip.
“The chemo makes me really hoarse, so I sound like a different me. But I’m doing okay, just tired. Guess what’s happening. Guess who arrives in six days,” he said, grabbing two little baby slippers alluding to the birth of his daughter.
“Anyway, that’s what I wanted to share. 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.”
Tanner was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer after he began experiencing stomach aches in 2020 and had trouble going to the bathroom. The disease had already spread to his liver by the time it was discovered and after battling sepsis for eight months in 2023, it spread to his lungs and he was given between two and five years to live.
Announcing Shay’s pregnancy in November 2024, the couple acknowledged concerns about Tanner’s imminent passing.
AmyLou arrived as a result of IVF on May 15 and a video showed the influencer meeting his daughter, whispering: “Sweetheart, I’ve been so excited to meet you. I love you so much… I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
In his posthumous video, he thanked fans for their support and “helping to make the last years of my life here on earth like fun and enjoyable and helping me be comfortable”. Movingly, Tanner added that he had come to terms with his death.
“I don’t know,” said the influencer. “I’m like, death is scary, but it’s also like a new adventure, you know. I’m excited to see what the experience is like, and hopefully it’s good.”