People do have a sense of themselves and what is becoming of them. There is a possibility that she is still recovering on not thinking clearly or there's a possibility that she knows exactly what she is talking about. My grandmother knew her last week, she didn't mention it to anybody but me. She waited till I had my second baby then let go the next week. Some how there is a little control there.

I hope something can be worked out for your mother and seeing the family member in Iraq. It is important if this is what she really wants.