With all the trouble it will take it might be better to just redo the work.
alan
Too bad no one has kept up with that simple utility.
But, yes, anybody caught without a backup frankly deserves the grief. :/
GOod NEws: Your files do get saved, by you, as your regular backup routine. Simply go to your backup files and retrieve your files there. You can even give yourself a pat on the back for making regular backups of the files you are working on.
- Courtesy of Broken Record Reminder Systems, Inc.
There is an old saw about saving and backups: never allow a file to go unsaved or unbacked up any longer than you care to spend recreating it.
Aside from doing regular backups (Time Machine, SuperDuper!...), you should update your OS to 10.5.6.
Neil