Influencer Shay Martin Reflects on First Thanksgiving Without Late Husband Tanner: “Grateful for Every Moment”
This Thanksgiving marked an emotional milestone for influencer and creator Shay Martin, who is experiencing her first holiday season as both a new mother and a widow. Her husband, Tanner Martin, died in July after a courageous five-year cancer battle that he documented openly on social media.
To honor Tanner during the holiday, Shay shared a heartfelt video compilation on Instagram featuring some of her favorite memories with him. She also posted several Stories discussing what “grieving through the holidays” has looked like for her.
“5 years since you were diagnosed. 5 months since you became our angel,” she wrote in her caption. “It’s hard when I feel like I’m forgetting your smile, your face, your laugh. I’m so grateful you tolerated every video and photo so we could cherish you for eternity.”
She ended the post with a simple message: “I love you. I miss you. And you’re mean♥️”
Becoming a Mother While Saying Goodbye
Shay and Tanner welcomed their first child, daughter AmyLou, in May — just 41 days before Tanner passed away.
In a pre-recorded video shared shortly after his death in July, Tanner announced to his followers that he had “gone to heaven,” closing the chapter on a journey he had bravely shared online since his 2020 cancer diagnosis.
During an October appearance on The Unplanned Podcast, Shay explained that she and Tanner always felt called to become parents, even while navigating ongoing treatments.
“He really, really wanted to be a dad,” she said. “I had always dreamed of having a family, so we decided, ‘Let’s have a baby.’”
Doctors had encouraged Tanner to bank sperm early in his cancer treatment, and though the couple planned for IVF in 2023, medical complications delayed the process. When Tanner’s treatments briefly improved in mid-2024, they decided to try naturally — and soon found out they were pregnant.
AmyLou was born healthy in May 2025. Just over a month later, Tanner’s health declined rapidly, and he died in July.
Sharing Her Grief Journey Online
Since losing her husband, Shay has been open about her grief with her 592,000 Instagram followers. She often speaks candidly about navigating life as a young widow and new mom.
This Halloween, she posted a “get ready with me” video, calling this chapter her “transformation widow era.”
“People expect you to stay the same,” she said. “But when you lose your best friend, your partner, your spouse… how could you not change?”
She added that “moving forward” isn’t a reset or a clean slate — it’s carrying Tanner’s story with her into every new chapter.
Earlier this month, Shay joined other widows for a lighthearted moment doing the viral candy salad trend, where each person shared memories about their late partners while adding candy to the bowl.
In her caption, Shay wrote: “Having people that GET IT is so healing. We cry together, laugh together, support each other, and cheer each other on.”
As she faces her first holiday season without Tanner, Shay says she is holding tight to gratitude for the moments they captured — and the legacy he left behind.
