Teacher shared story before dying in battle against cancer Teacher for over 20 years in Araguaína, in the northern region of the state, Valéria de Castro Alves died at the age of 41 during treatment for lung cancer. In a story published months earlier on a social network, she shared her desire to keep up with her children's growth. The death was confirmed this Sunday (12), and her story caused a stir on social media. "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, with their first girlfriend, graduate, get married", said the teacher's publication at the time. ? Click here to follow the g1 TO channel on WhatsApp The diagnosis was made in May 2025, when the disease was already in stage four. The exam also identified a rare mutation. According to her husband Emersom Castro, during the first months of chemotherapy and fundraising to buy medicines, the body rejected the treatment, and the disease progressed. "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. MORE Before taking time off from work, due to the pain and limitations caused by the illness, she taught at EducandárioObjective and cared for children at Quarta Igreja Batista. The teacher left her husband and sons Arthur, aged 9, and Samuel, aged 2. Because of the illness, Valéria had to stop breastfeeding her youngest son. "Our whole routine changed. I gave myself completely, I spared no effort, I accompanied her and loved her until the end. I studied the illness, I knew the names of all the medicines", said Emersom. "She was that balance, she loved her family and her children. Her mother lived with us for eight years after she [Valéria] lost her father to cancer. My feeling is one of love, I wanted to love her as she loved me. Her dream was to see her children grow up. I don't regret a single day of having been with her until the end", concluded Emersom. Teacher from Araguaína during treatment against lung cancer Personal Archive The teacher was born in Maranhão, but raised her family in the northern region of Tocantins. The burial took place on Monday morning (13), at the Jardim das Paineiras Cemetery, in Araguaína. See more news from the region on g1 Tocantins.