updating un-maintained package

Hello,

http://pear.php.net/package/Text_Highlighter

is not maintained.

I honestly do not have the time to become a pear maintainer, I just 
don't. That package is useful to me, however the package uses XML_Parser 
(Text_Highlighter_Generator actually extends it) which I understand is 
deprecated.

If I were to fix that issue and submit a patch, could the package be 
updated with the patch without me becoming a maintainer?