WARRENSBURG – This is a Christmas story with multiple biblical similarities. The short version of the story is how the Adirondack Northway, in late December, was transformed into a real life nativity scene.

It was just after midnight Monday heading into Tuesday when Angela Mondella, still about two weeks shy of her due date, began having contractions.

“After about an hour, I woke up (my husband) and said they seem to be getting closer together, and about 15 minutes later after that my water broke, and I was in full-blown labor,” Angela recalled.

That’s when her husband, Joseph, jumped into action.

“A first the plan was to drop off (my 2-year-old son Jojo) at my mom’s or Angela’s sister’s,” the expectant father said. “As soon as she got into the car, she said, ‘”I don’t think we’re going to make it.'”

When they called 911, a dispatcher told them to head directly to the Warrensburg EMS headquarters, but when they got there, no one else had arrived yet.

“It was the middle of the night, it was snowing, and it was now Christmas Eve,” Joe pointed out. “So we didn’t know how long it was going to take them to get there.”

The Mondellas were about to drive themselves to Glens Falls Hospital, but just in the nick of time, three EMTs showed up, Angela was helped into an ambulance, and the trip down the Northway began.

“I told them I think he’s ready to come, but I don’t think he believed me,” Angela said. “And then in three short pushes, he was out all on his own.”

Little Luca, 5-pounds, 8-ounzes, 18-inches long, was born on the shoulder of the Northway, just north of Exit 21.

“If it wasn’t for them (the 3 EMTs),” Angela asserted, “this baby would have been born in the truck by me while (my husband) was driving.”

The baby boy was born in late December. His father’s name is Joseph, and three wise men (John, Jack, and Cory) showed up to assist. It’s a different version of a familiar story.

“If you know a first responder, make sure you thank them for everything that they do,” Joe urged. “If they didn’t act as fast as they did, it would have been a completely different story that we’re telling right now.”

At this point, the Mondellas have no way of knowing how many times they’ll retell the story in the future. However, from this day forward, it will be their very own family story to tell about how divine interstate intervention touched their family in, of all places, the break-down lane of the Adirondack Northway.