I agree with the above. As long as you did not take the family silver with you when you left, you will be considered for re-employment. I know of several who have returned.
DC5150, it is true indeed. CX would be highly unlikely to offer any kind of long term leave without pay to a pilot, and then take him back on seniority. It was done during SARS and also during the 1982 recession that I know of, but those were rare occasions that were for the good of the company.
You are not allowed "life events" in CX. You will be allowed a short term compassionate leave to bury family members, a month or so if it is a spouse, but the idea of a sabbatical for education or to provide long term care is unknown. So yes, they would "kick to the street."