Tanner Martin's Final Message: A Farewell from the Heart

Hey friends, today I want to talk about something that’s incredibly moving, deeply human, and, honestly, pretty hard to wrap your head around. It’s about Tanner Martin—the 30-year-old Utah-based influencer, husband, new father, and cancer warrior—who announced his own passing in a pre-recorded video that went live just yesterday.

Yes, you heard that right. Tanner, who had been battling stage 4 colon cancer for five years, left us on June 25. But he did so on his own terms, in his own voice, with the same grace and humor that carried him through his entire journey. “Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I am dead,” he said, smiling gently into the camera. It was surreal to watch—heartbreaking, but strangely comforting. He explained that he’d seen someone else do something similar and thought it was a beautiful way to speak to the people he loved one last time, and to give his wife, Shay, space to grieve without having to carry the burden of breaking the news.

And then he did what only Tanner could do—he made it light. “Life was awesome,” he said. “I really enjoyed it while I was here.” He shared that he was excited for what comes after this life, hopeful to be reunited with loved ones who had passed before him. It wasn’t morbid or dark; it was raw, real, and filled with the kind of peace we all wish for when we think about the end.

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Just weeks before his passing, Tanner and Shay welcomed their baby girl, AmyLou. Born on May 15, she was the culmination of love and hope, a miracle after IVF treatments, and a symbol of everything Tanner and Shay fought for. And even in his final days, Tanner was thinking about her. In a second video, posted the same day, Tanner made one last request to his community—to support AmyLou and Shay through a GoFundMe campaign. He joked about it being “less than the price of a McChicken,” but behind the joke was the real heart of it: a father trying to take care of his family, even from beyond.

The fundraiser has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a short time, a testament to the impact Tanner made and the love people have for his story.

This wasn’t just a goodbye—it was a lesson in how to live with intention, with openness, and with fierce love for your people. Tanner used social media not for attention, but to create connection. He shared his pain, his fears, his joy, and his humor with all of us. And in doing so, he built a community that now carries his legacy forward.

So wherever you are, Tanner—thank you. Thank you for showing us what courage really looks like. Thank you for reminding us that life, even in the face of death, is still worth laughing about, still worth celebrating.

And may the force be with you, from our angel force ghost.

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