Utah — Tanner Martin, a young husband and first-time father who courageously shared his journey with stage 4 colon cancer, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of strength, vulnerability, and love. Tanner, 29, inspired thousands through his candid reflections on life, illness, and fatherhood, even as he faced a diagnosis that doctors eventually deemed incurable.
Martin’s story gained national attention not only because of the aggressive cancer he was battling, but because of the deeply human way he met it—honestly, openly, and with hope. Despite the bleak outlook he was given in 2023, when doctors told him his condition was no longer curable and that he likely had just two to five years to live, Tanner remained focused on one dream: becoming a father.
That dream came true this spring.
On May 15, Tanner and his wife, Shay Wright, welcomed their first child, a daughter named AmyLou. The couple shared the joyful news on Instagram, celebrating the milestone with photos that touched hearts across social media.
“Her daddy made it,” Shay wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of Tanner in a hospital bed holding his newborn daughter, his face alight with tenderness and awe.
The image captured a moment that felt nothing short of miraculous—one Tanner had longed for despite the physical toll of cancer treatments, the emotional strain of uncertainty, and the difficult path to conception. Due to his illness, the couple turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to start their family. The process was fraught with obstacles, including a terrifying hospitalization for sepsis and the relentless progression of Tanner’s cancer.
Still, they persisted. And in the face of adversity, their daughter arrived.
In one of his last public Instagram videos, shared on March 9, Tanner opened up about the emotional weight of fatherhood while living with terminal cancer.
“The hardest thing about having a kid right now is knowing the chance I won’t see them grow up,” he said, his voice steady but full of feeling. “And I know that’s the risk you take, having a kid when you have cancer. But I was just always excited to be a dad.”
That deep desire to become a father shaped his final years. Even as his health declined, Tanner remained focused on what truly mattered—his family, his faith, and making every remaining moment count.
He was first diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 25, a shocking and rare diagnosis for someone so young. From the start, he approached his illness with transparency and courage, documenting his experience to raise awareness and to offer support to others facing similar battles. His social media became a place of connection, filled with raw honesty, gentle humor, and heartfelt gratitude for the little things—sunlight, shared meals, a quiet morning with his wife.
For many, Tanner became a symbol of hope in the face of the unthinkable. He showed that living fully is not defined by the number of days we have, but by what we do with them. And Tanner chose to love, dream, and keep showing up—even when life felt impossibly hard.
He is survived by his wife, Shay, and their newborn daughter, AmyLou, who will one day come to know her father through the powerful words, photos, and videos he left behind—each one a testament to his love and unwavering spirit.
As friends, family, and followers across the country mourn Tanner’s loss, his story remains a reminder of resilience, faith, and the quiet courage it takes to find joy—even in the face of profound uncertainty.