Joni Bakaradze died 18 years ago when he was just 22-years-old. He was already married and had a son, who was almost 2-years-old.
Instead of burying him the traditional way, the family decided to build a “grave” in their house where they keep their son in a casket, which can be easily opened at any time.
His mother, Tsiuri Kvaratskhelia of Zugdidi Municipality, in Georgia,
has taken her motherly love to the extreme as she lovingly takes care of her mummified son’s body for the past 18 years.
Everyday for the past 18 years, the mother has been lovingly caring for her son’s body in an attempt to preserve it.
The family celebrates his birthdays. For many years, on the day of his birthday, Kvaratskhelia changes her son’s clothes.
At first, his mother used traditional embalming techniques, but after awhile she began to use her own methods.
The mother is treating Bakaradze’s body with rubbing alcohol. She uses wet sheets soaked in alcohol to preserve the body.
"I cannot leave the body without sheets during the night or the skin turns black,” the mother said.
"He was a good man and a good husband," the mother said of her son.
In explaining why she has not buried Bakaradze’s body, the mother said that she wanted her grandson to be able to love his father.
Bakaradze’s son is now almost 20-years-old. According to Kvaratskhelia, he is not afraid to see his father’s body, and he is happy with his grandparents’ decision to preserve the body.
