Tanner Martin’s Final Goodbye: A Heartfelt Message Left Behind for His Family and Followers

“If you’re watching this… I’m gone.” With those quiet words, 30-year-old Tanner Martin said his final farewell — not in person, but in a video he recorded before his passing. A little more than a month after meeting his newborn daughter, Tanner shared a deeply moving final message that touched the hearts of thousands.

A Farewell Full of Love, Humor, and Courage

Tanner’s pre-recorded video was shared on Instagram on June 25 — 41 days after the birth of his daughter, AmyLou, with wife Shay Wright.

Despite the heartbreak, Tanner’s message was full of gratitude and even lighthearted humor.

“I had a heck of a life,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully, I believe there’s something after this. I’m excited to meet those people… and hopefully, we’re hanging out now, making fun of all you nerds.”

Diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 25, Tanner had spent the last five years battling the disease. Alongside Shay, he documented the highs and lows of that journey, building a community of hundreds of thousands on TikTok and Instagram.

Facing Death with Unshakable Positivity

Rather than hide from the reality, Tanner embraced it. He spoke candidly about death being “a new adventure” and expressed hope about what comes after life.

“I’m excited to see what the experience is like,” he shared. “And hopefully it’s good.”

His final message was also a heartfelt thank you to the online family who stood by him.

“Thank you for making the last years of my life fun and enjoyable,” he said. “I love you guys.”

Leaving a Legacy for His Daughter

Tanner’s video ended with a request — not for himself, but for his daughter’s future. He encouraged viewers to contribute to a GoFundMe campaign to help Shay raise AmyLou.

“It’ll help replace my income. Pay for school, babysitting, her wedding — all the things Shay and I would’ve done together.”

With baby AmyLou beside him in the video, Tanner spoke softly but clearly about wanting to ensure his little girl would always feel his love — even in his absence.

Love That Lives On

Tanner and Shay chose to have a child through IVF, knowing time was short. In a video from March, Tanner said, “I was just always excited to be a dad,” even if he might not be around to watch AmyLou grow up.

Before his passing, he and Shay prepared gifts, letters, and videos for her to remember him by — a legacy of love for the little girl he adored.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shay Martin (@tannerandshay)

A Final Wish

His last video was titled “Tanner’s Last Wish.” The caption, written in his signature humor, read:

“For about the cost of a McChicken, you could help build AmyLou’s future.”

Shay later shared an emotional blog post describing her grief and fear of facing life alone — a raw reminder of the pain left behind when a bright light like Tanner’s goes out.

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A post shared by Shay Martin (@tannerandshay)

But through his honesty, humor, and immense love for his family, Tanner Martin gave the world something rare: a goodbye that felt like a warm hug — One that will stay in the hearts of many for years to follow.