- Tanner Martin, who faced a terminal cancer, shared his journey with millions online, until his death this week.
- He and his wife Shay welcomed a daughter in May, fulfilling a cherished dream.
- A GoFundMe raised over $700,000 to support his family's future and legacy.
AMERICAN FORK — Death was to be a "new adventure" for 30-year-old Tanner Martin. He let that be known in a message to his family and millions of social media followers days before his death from cancer on Wednesday.
"Life was awesome," Tanner Martin said in a TikTok video released after his death. "I really enjoyed it while I was here. I believe there is something after this, and I'm excited to meet those people, and hopefully we're hanging out now. … There's a lot of people (I look forward to seeing), and I'm excited to see them not in pain and just happy. … Death is scary, but it's also a new adventure, and I'm kind of excited … to see what the experience is like."
@tannerandshay Tanners heavenly message to you♥️ see the next video for his wish. May the Force be with You from our angel force ghost
♬ original sound - Tanner & Shay | Cancer Fight
Martin, who died at age 30, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer five years ago. KSL.com first met him and his wife, Shay Martin, two years ago when they hoped, despite Tanner Martin's diagnosis, that they would be able to bear a child.
That hope became a reality when the couple welcomed a daughter, AmyLou, on May 15.
Since his diagnosis, the two have openly shared with their social media followers what it's like to have terminal cancer and live with a person who is dying. Their approach to embracing death while celebrating life may have seemed unconventional to some, but Shay Martin, who is a licensed mental health professional, did not shy away from it.
"(As a society) we just don't prepare for death, and it does the family and individual a lot of disservice," Shay told KSL.com in May 2024.
In the couple's social media posts, joy was mixed with grief, and earthly goals were balanced with those beyond what the eye can see. Viewers watched as Tanner Martin received his college degree, while also planning his own celebration of life, funeral and designing a headstone for his inevitable death.
Bringing a new life into the world while closing out his own was the ultimate representation of life's juxtaposition, and viewers took notice.
"Please take some of my time and give it to Tanner," one TikTok commenter wrote.
"You did it, Tanner! (Your daughter) will always be able to say she met the strongest man in her life, and he was her dad," another wrote.
Millions have watched the Martins as their story has unfolded, with many donating to what became his last wish: a secure life for his wife and daughter.
"Shay could raise (our daughter) by herself," Tanner Martin said in his final video, posted on social media two days ago. "I just wanted to ask you guys if you could help me raise (her)." He directed viewers to a GoFundMe* account that he hoped would raise money to help his widow raise their daughter. The goal was set at $250,000, and as of Friday, it has garnered over $730,000 in donations.
"It's going to be really hard for Shay to do on her own," he said, detailing that he intends the funds to cover housing, utilities and basic living costs, but also child care and health care costs and, when the time comes, eventual help with their daughter's wedding.
"I've been sitting with my hand on my heart all day, just trying to take it all in," Shay Martin wrote in an update on the fundraiser page. "Tanner always said the internet could be a beautiful place—and now I've seen it with my own eyes. The love and kindness pouring in from every corner of the world—from our TikTok and Instagram families, from friends and total strangers—is beyond anything I could've imagined.
Shay Martin said she plans to use the excess funds to support the nonprofit Rebels Against Cancer that serves young adults with cancer, as well as the Tanner Martin Memorial Scholarship at Utah Valley University.
"Tanner always said, 'Keep it real,' and this is as real as it gets," Shay Martin posted on her own social media account. "You've reminded me that even in grief, there is so much light. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for believing that Tanner's legacy can keep changing lives."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
