hm, he may die soon, and she is still in the US? I know for sure if my husband would ever be sick I would not leave him alone in a foreign country... I would get there immediately.... but that's just my take on it.
Anyway, married in 2003 and children ages 6 and 9.... so is the father of the kids the current husband?
Why I'm bringing this up? These are the kind of questions the immigration officer adjudicating her case might also have.
I also second the remark, that advise from a lawyer might be more valuable than this message board.