Tanner Martin Announces To The Internet His Own Death At 30

Beloved influencer Tanner Martin, 30, leaves an emotional and heartfelt goodbye as he dies after a brave fight with colon cancer just a month after meeting his newborn daughter. A beloved influencer has died at age 30 after a courageous five-year battle with colon cancer, leaving behind a heart-wrenching message to the world and a daughter he met one month ago tomorrow.

His wife, Shay Martin, or a representative did not confirm his death. Tanner did, in a pre-recorded video shared on the couple's Instagram account. In the video, which has caused a storm of mourning and praise to swirl across digital platforms, Tanner opens with a brutal and simple truth: "Hey, it's me Tanner, if you're watching this, I am dead."

It was an honest, heart-wrenching moment that showcased exactly what Tanner meant to his followers: sincere, heartfelt, and inspiring, even in the wake of incredible adversity. He said the video was meant to ease his wife's burden as she embarks, without him, on the journey of grief and Mother's Day and motherhood. "I wanted to make a video where she could just post it," he said, "so that you guys would know, and she could take a break as long as she needed to from social media."

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The video, filmed before he died, illustrated Tanner's continued care for others at the end of his own life's journey. His words were so clear in his declaration of love and support for Shay. He patiently acknowledged the long season that lay before her, the long season of grief, and hoped the world would show her grace, space, and some kindness. Tanner was open about his battle with cancer to his followers. He had spent years using his platform to speak openly about the ups and downs of life with terminal illness, a brave voice to many in a world that sometimes just wanted to hush him up.

The couple's happiness had just soared to new heights with the birth of their daughter, something that now amounts to both joy and an overwhelming sense of loss. Tanner's memory is retained through the life he helped create, through his own messages of hope and courage. Guideposts editor-in-chief Edward Grinnan reflects on Tanner Martin's writing and how it reminds him of what is truly important and meaningful in life: love, human connection, and saying goodbye on one's own terms.