Advice about taking a month off for hernia surgery

I am a truck driver. I work 9-5 full time, and make 4 deliveries a day, every day. I drive an 18 wheeler. So…. there's only 3 drivers, plus the driver manager. If one of the drivers calls in sick, the driver manager needs to cover it. There's no back-up drivers, or extra drivers. I've been employed with them since July of last year, and my insurance with this company started in January of this year (prior to this, I had Obamacare). I've had a hernia for at least two years. I wore a hernia belt. I was drying off in the shower recently, and felt soreness in my scrotum, and realized that the hernia mass has taken up residency next to my testicles. I went to a hernia doctor on Feb 15. He scheduled me for surgery in early March. I said, wait. I need to give my employer more time. I asked to move it to April, which he did. I have yet to tell my employer. I know it's going to be a huge burden to ask for a month off. The driver manager is going to be pissed because he'll have to do the route. Like I said, they don't have any back-up drivers, but nonetheless, I'm wondering if the company will simply fire me rather than let me get the hernia surgery? The hernia surgery isn't critical. It's a little bit sore in my scrotum, but I've been living with it for over 2 years. But I want it done now. I don't want to wait til I've been there a year… which apparently affords me some protection. Can they fire me if I announce tomorrow that I need hernia surgery in a month?

submitted by /u/Daytrader60
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