Tanner Martin, a beloved TikToker and advocate who spent five years sharing his battle with stage 4 colon cancer, passed away on June 25 at the age of 30 — just 41 days after the birth of his daughter, Amy Lou.
His last wish? To stay alive long enough to hold her.
And somehow, through pain, faith, and unshakable love — he did.
A Goodbye, in His Own Words
In a video pre-recorded for his followers and posted to Instagram after his passing, Tanner faced the camera with peace in his eyes.
“Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I’m dead,” he began, his voice steady. “But life was awesome. I really enjoyed it while I was here.”
With a blend of humor and grace, he reflected on death not with fear, but with curiosity — even excitement — about what might come next. He smiled as he imagined being reunited with loved ones who had passed, and lovingly thanked the community that had carried him through his darkest days.
“I hope this helps Shay and our daughter get through what’s next. I wanted to be thoughtful about this goodbye.”
A Love That Defied Time
Tanner and Shay Wright, 29, welcomed their daughter on May 15, a moment captured in quiet hospital photos — the couple cradling their newborn together in a shared hospital bed. Amy Lou had arrived safely. Tanner had made it.
The moment was everything.
Their story, told over five years across TikTok and Instagram, wasn’t just about cancer. It was about courage. Humor. Grace. And hope — the kind that clings on even when the odds don’t.
“May the force be with you from our angel force ghost,” Shay captioned the post, referencing their shared love for Star Wars.
Leaving a Legacy for Amy Lou
In a follow-up video, Tanner shared his final wish: to raise support for Shay and Amy Lou’s future. A GoFundMe page was created, giving followers a chance to contribute to the life Tanner had hoped to build — even if he couldn’t stay to see it.
The outpouring of love was immediate. Followers remembered him not just as a fighter, but as someone who made them laugh, cry, and feel seen — even while battling terminal illness.
The Quiet Strength of a Hero
In one of his last public updates, Tanner appeared on Instagram, voice raspy from chemo but eyes bright. Holding a pair of tiny baby slippers, he whispered:
“Guess who arrives in six days.”
That was May 11.
Four days later, he became a father. Forty-one days later, he became a memory. But not one that fades.
“Check On Your People. Especially the Ones Who Smile the Most.” 🕊️
Tanner Martin didn’t leave behind just a daughter. He left behind a roadmap: of how to love loudly, grieve openly, and smile anyway.
His story broke hearts — not because he left too soon, but because he stayed so strong, so kind, and so beautifully present until the very end.
He held her.
He let go.
And in doing so, he gave Amy Lou the strength of his last heartbeat — the ultimate gift from a father who refused to leave without meeting his little girl.
