LOL, about my Aunt, very funny.
Regurading you:
You got fired for missing work..... A sutuation you couldn't avoid. Well that stinks. I almost skipped my graduation from HS because unknown to everybody, I had a BLOCKAGE in the little tube, that was painful. I was sick for a very long time, but just chalked it up to stress and the excitement of being out of school and done with all the insesitive comments.

About you being let got from your job due to something you can't control. (The post-op recovery time.) I think there is an act the prohibits that from happening, then again it depends on what year you got fired and when the act was enforced. I think its called "Medical leave act", I think I am missing a word in the begining, I'll look it up later..... Might be the same medical leave act that protects parents from loosing thier jobs to take care of criticallly ill family members.

Take it easy as much as possible. You'll need your strength.