I don't see why taking a half-year off would derail your career in any significant way, if you are at all employable. But as I said: I doubt you'd really have

I don't see why taking a half-year off would derail your career in any significant way, if you are at all employable. But as I said: I doubt you'd really have to leave your job in order to take 6 months off (without pay), if you asked your HR department and explained the circumstances.