iCloud deleted files after mac os x update?

Trying to a help a friend... she recently got an iPhone last week after switching from Android. She has a Macbook Pro + an iPad Pro. All worked fine until this past Saturday when she did an OS update on the Macbook. It appears to have cleaned out her iCloud Drive as this is where she was storing files. She MAY under the prompt "If you turn off iCloud Drive, all documents stored in iCloud will be removed from this Mac." clicked "Remove from Mac". BUT, these files are not showing in iCloud deleted files and they are to be found NOWHERE. Is there any hope in getting these files back WITHOUT a physical backup of the Mac Harddrive?

Please let me know if you have more questions