PHOENIX -- CBS 5 news anchor Catherine Anaya met with a Valley woman who's inspiring others, one mile at a time.

Jennifer Longdon has been on a five-year journey to reclaim her life after she was shot and left paralyzed, said Anaya.

Longdon said she didn't see who fired the five shots at the truck she was driving, and she didn't even know where one of the bullets had hit her. But in those frightening moments after the shooting she said she told anyone close enough to hear: "Tell my son I love him."

Anaya asked Longdon if she thought she were going to die that night.

"I did die that night. I coded I believe -- more than once that night. And I wasn't expected to live," said Longdon. "He said, you were shot you have a spinal cord injury and at this level you're paralyzed and you're never going to walk again."

Anaya said Longdon has regained her mobility through the use of a wheelchair and with the help of physical therapy, has developed her strength enough to push her wheelchair more than three miles a day.

"The average woman does about 25 reps on this machine and I routinely do 65," said Longdon.

It's that drive to challenge herself further that helped Longdon complete the PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona half-marathon in January.

"That's 13.1 miles in this same standard wheelchair. That's like running the race on her hands," said Anaya.

"Every time I've gotten to a place where I go, I can't go another second. I can't go another inch. I can't do anything more. I can't take anything more. But I found out I could," said Longdon.

Anaya said Longdon is about to find out if she is capable of even more with the help of some custom braces.

"I get choked up just thinking it might happen," said Longdon.

With her hands steady on support bars and after several minutes finding her center of gravity, Longdon was able to stand up.

Sobbing, Longdon shared that the experience was fantastic.

"It's marathons away from where I was. Marathons. But when I made that call I didn't think I'd be taking another breath, let alone another step," said Longdon.

Longdon told Anaya that she is going to work even harder now so that come January she will push herself two steps further in the next half-marathon.

"I'm going to take two steps. So, I want them to be over the finish line. I am paralyzed for now and medical science does not have an answer for me -- now. But I'm still taking two steps in a couple of months. And that's not supposed to be possible," said Longdon.

"Jennifer's strength is more than just a story to me," said Anaya. "You see, complications during the birth of my daughter 13 years ago left me paralyzed and in a wheelchair for a month. Now, I run marathons. I run because I can, and for those who can't."

Anaya said in January, she will run in Longdon's honor.

"To help raise funds and pay it forward through a planned sports and fitness center in Phoenix for persons with disabilities," said Anaya. "Please help me, help others through fundraising."