Who is Tanner Martin? Influencer Shares Emotional Cancer Update

May 13, 2025 – Influencer Tanner Martin has shared a heartfelt health update just days before he and wife Shay Wright are set to welcome their first baby.

Tanner, 29, who has been bravely documenting his battle with stage 4 colon cancer, took to Instagram to let his followers know how he’s doing—and to share his excitement about becoming a dad.

“Guess who arrives in six days?”

In the video, Tanner explained that chemotherapy is making his voice hoarse. “I sound like a different me,” he joked, adding, “I’m doing okay, just tired.”

With a soft smile, he picked up a pair of tiny baby slippers and moved them playfully in the air. “She probably won’t be able to do that yet—maybe the week after,” he said, laughing, clearly thrilled about meeting his baby girl, who is due May 17.

Tanner also mentioned he’ll be getting a short break from chemo soon. “Three weeks on, one week off,” he explained. “Very excited for that.”

He ended the update by saying, “Love you,” and blowing kisses to the camera.

Choosing to Be a Dad — Even with Cancer

Tanner and Shay, married for over six years, have built a loving and supportive online community by sharing their journey—especially the difficult choices they’ve faced since Tanner’s diagnosis at just 25 years old.

In a video from earlier this year, Tanner opened up about one of the hardest parts of becoming a parent 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 with emotion. “But I was just always excited to be a dad.”

They’ve taken steps to make sure Tanner will always be part of their baby’s life, no matter what happens. One touching video shows him opening a special gift—a children’s book and matching bracelets—to help his daughter feel connected to him forever.

A Painful, Hopeful Journey

The couple shared that they thought long and hard before deciding to have a child. “This was not a decision we came to lightly,” Shay said in one clip. “We probably took two years.”

Tanner was honest about his doubts. “I was pretty convinced we weren’t going to do it,” he said. He worried about the risks of raising a child as a single parent and whether his cancer could be passed on.

But after confirming Tanner’s cancer wasn’t genetic and putting plans in place—like Shay’s brother stepping in as a father figure if needed—they decided to move forward with IVF. And in November 2024, they shared their pregnancy news, filled with both joy and anxiety.

Looking Ahead

Tanner’s cancer is no longer curable. In February 2023, doctors gave him a life expectancy of two to five years. Still, he and Shay continue to share their lives with honesty, courage, and love—showing others that even in pain, there can still be hope, laughter, and connection.

Now, with just days to go until they meet their baby girl, Tanner is soaking up every moment and sharing it with the world.

“Anyway, that’s my update. Love you,” he said simply.