Tanner Martin, a Utah-based content creator, passed away at 30 years old after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. After just days of becoming a first time father, Martin's last message to the world was released: a video he recorded before he died and announced himself.
It was in November 2020 when Martin received the news that he had stage four colon cancer. In the years that followed, Tanner developed a social media following for his raw and open approach to documenting his journey with cancer. It wasn't all about the sickness, it was about life, his family and how he just continued on his path despite it all.
The video Tanner created was posted by his wife Shay Martin on June 25, where it monitored and spread anywhere and everywhere online. It served as much more than a farewell but a message of gratitude and reflection from a person who understood his time was limited!
A Last Farewell, Shared With The World
In the deep-hitting video, Martin said. “If you are watching this, I have died”. He began to share about the life he lived, it was meaningful and the journey was happy, even when he was sick.
ust 41 days before he passed, Martin and his wife had become parents to their daughter, AmyLou. Knowing his health was declining, Martin said he created the video for Shay, so she did not have to publicly speak, while grieving in private.
He thanked his supporters for making his last years fun, enjoyable, and comfortable. He went on to share about his belief in an afterlife and that he looked forward to seeing his family again, pain free and at peace.
Through the video, Martin exhibited the same grace and calm determination he had maintained throughout his public journey with cancer. Over the five years he endured more than 50 rounds of treatment and six major procedures. No matter what, Martin's heart was always set on thankfulness, his spiritual beliefs, and his family as it grew.
Honoring a Life that Impacted Thousands
Tanner and Shay Martin had gained notoriety due to their raw and often vulnerable posts chronicling their experience of a terminal illness. Followers witnessed their journey through infertility, IVF, the ups and downs of cancer treatment, boyhood exhaustion, and even the incredible happiness of becoming a parent.
In their GoFundMe campaign, the couple aimed at supporting Shay and their daughter following Tanner’s death. Tanner had been denied life insurance due to his diagnosis, but their story struck a chord with so many people that the campaign got to that nearly $400,000 mark
Shay shared Tanner also took steps to stay in proximity to their daughter's life, even in death. He made recordings of messages, birthdays, dances for her future wedding, all with the hope that she'd have something of him to hold onto through her childhood.
Tanner Martin showed us how to be brave in difficult circumstances. His last message wasn't only about death; it was about love, hope, and connection to one another even in life's hardest moments.
Source(Image / Thumbnail): people.com
