Tanner Martin, 30, husband of Shay Wright and dedicated content creator, has died after a five-year fight against stage‑4 colon cancer, sources confirmed. The Utah father passed away only weeks after the birth of their daughter, AmyLou, and following a courageous battle that he shared openly with followers.
At age 25, Tanner received his initial diagnosis. Despite aggressive treatment—including over 50 rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and six surgeries—his disease progressed to an incurable stage by 2023 (people.com, thesun.co.uk). Through it all, Tanner documented every step, maintaining a message of hope and preparing thoughtfully for end-of-life care.
On May 15, he welcomed his first child, daughter AmyLou, bringing his lifelong dream to fruition—even as his health declined (distractify.com, washingtonpost.com). In a posthumous video shared by Shay Wright on June 25, Tanner recorded a heartfelt farewell:
“Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I am dead… Life was awesome. I really enjoyed it while I was here.” (people.com)
He expressed gratitude, reflected on his life’s journey, and outlined a final wish: a GoFundMe campaign to support his wife and daughter’s future education and living expenses. The fundraiser quickly surpassed its initial goal, demonstrating the community’s deep connection and support (people.com).
Tanner’s journey highlighted not only the challenges of battling colorectal cancer at a young age but also his extraordinary courage, transparency, and commitment to family. He and Shay had intentionally planned a “living funeral,” celebrating life with loved ones while he still could—a testament to his resilience and dignity in the face of mortality (newsweek.com).
Tanner Martin’s legacy is one of vulnerability, hope, and love. His open sharing of his final months, his devotion to Shay and baby AmyLou, and his willingness to educate others about colon cancer have left an enduring impact.