Lightner was diagnosed in 1993, at the age of 35, with young-onset Parkinson's disease. The motor fluctuations from Parkinson's disease forced her to leave her job as a claims examiner for a major health insurance company in March 2000.
She has written numerous letters to the editor and As I See It columns for her local paper, The Patriot-News. Her book, Parkinson's Disease and Me Walking the Path, was published by First Books Library (now Author House) in May 2003.
Patricia Lightner lives with her cat, Parker James, who has appeared in some of the articles she has written. She is single, and does not have children, but she visits often with her parents, sister, and nieces. She enjoys spending time writing, reading, exercising, cross stitching, and scrap booking. She also volunteers for her church. When she wants to have fun, Lightner plays par 3 golf or goes bowling with friends.
Lightner earned a Writing Social Commentary Certificate from Penn State World Campus in 2007. In 2008, she will successfully complete the Freelance Writer Career Diploma Program from Penn Foster Career School. Penn Foster is the largest accredited school of independent home study.