Professor shared story before dying in battle against cancer Professor Valéria de Castro Alves died after more than a year of treatment against stage four lung cancer. A statement posted on social media before his death moved internet users. Her husband, Emersom Castro, describes her as a sweet, lively, hard-working woman and states that she was the "thermometer" that brought balance to the family. Death was confirmed on Sunday (12), after Valéria underwent chemotherapy and medication treatments that, for a period, reduced the nodule from 11 cm to 4 cm in the lung. The teacher left a legacy of dedication to early childhood education in Araguaína, in the north of Tocantins. "She was sweet, and at the same time, with a strong personality because she was the thermometer of the house. Always with a sparky side and I was more on the peace side. It was that balance, she brought a lot of firmness here in the house. She leaves this legacy that is our children and the success of a multitude of children that she discipled", says Emersom Castro. ? Click here to follow the g1 TO channel on WhatsApp In the report published on social media, the teacher shared her desire to monitor her children's growth. "My dream is to raise my children, I want to hold Samuel [son] in my arms whenever I want: I can't do these things anymore. I want to see them grow up, have their first girlfriend, graduate, get married", said the teacher at the time. READ MORE Teacher who was fighting cancer in TO dies at age 41 and story about children moves on social media Groom arrives by canoe for wedding on the banks of dam in TO and surprises guests Teacher from Araguaína died after battling cancer Personal Archive The diagnosis of cancer was made in May 2025, and along with it, a rare mutation was also identified. According to her husband, during the first months of chemotherapy and fundraising for the purchase of medicines, the body started to reject the treatment. "She changed the medicine and had a good response. The 11 cm nodule decreased to 4 cm. But we didn't expect the worst: when the disease discovered the medicine's strategy and started to advance again. It metastasized to the brain, reaching the nervous system and gradually taking away the movement of her left hand", explained her husband. The teacher was born in Maranhão, but raised her family in the northern region of Tocantins. She left her husband and sons Arthur, aged 9, and Samuel, aged 2. During treatment, Valéria had to stop breastfeeding her youngest son. Valéria dedicated herself to early childhood education in Araguaína. The educator taught classes at EducandárioObjective and cared for children at Quarta Batista Igreja. The burial took place on Monday morning (13), at the Jardim das Paineiras Cemetery, in Araguaína. Valéria Castro with her husband and two children Personal Archive See more news from the region on g1 Tocantins.