So You Think You Can Dance Judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy Shares Heartbreaking Moment

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is part of the General Hospital family as he played Anton Ivanov, the Metro Court handyman who showed some serious dance skills with Kelly Monaco’s Sam at the 2013 Nurses Ball. Earlier this week, the former Dancing With the Stars pro visited New York City to do press for his new role as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. His trip to the Big Apple came with a heavy emotional experience.

Beloved Babushka

Chmerkovskiy’s family lives in New York so the dedicated family man was able to combine business with pleasure during his recent work visit. Sadly, the time he spent with his beloved Grandmother was unlike past visits. GH has told stories about Alzheimer’s with the character of Mike Corbin (Daytime Emmy-winner Max Gail) and now, a GH alum is opening up about how he’s been touched by the disease.

“She finally didn’t really recognize me today…” Chmerkovskiy posted on Instagram about his dear relative’s cognitive decline. “I stopped by on my way to JFK [airport]. My dad told me this would be the case but I really wanted to have this moment with my babushka.

“I went through my usual routine with her,” he continues. “I showed her all the pictures on my phone and just kept it purely visual. She didn’t remember enough to connect on a personal level but did insinuate that my wife [Peta Murgatroyd] is hot and kids [are] pretty because I made the right choice in spouse. That was the highlight of my day. But she never really remembered me. And now I am tearing up on the plane and really sad about that.

“She’s healthy and she looks great, and that’s the best news but now I really miss my grandma,” adds the mirror ball champion. “Go hug your loved ones…”

“Oh that is tough…” responded Anna Trebunskaya, a former DWTS pro, and Chmerkovskiy’s pal, “to see a loved one there in front of you and you know that’s it’s not fully them anymore. She felt your warmth and appreciated you being with her .”

An expert in neurology also responded to Chmerkovskiy’s emotional post. “Hi! Neurology clinician here who sees patients like your babushka daily,” wrote corvid21. “Let me tell you, she may not be able place who you are, but she clearly knows you are a safe person and there is a joy in her eyes when she’s looking at you. She knows you, even if she can’t place you.”

Maksim Chmerkovskiy makes his debut as a judge on the 18th season of So You Can Think You Can Dance on Monday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.