Megan J.

During a routine app update the app crashed and lost all of my data.

This app should come with a warning:
ALl files and messages are saved locally to your phone (and tied to your current SIM card, so if your phone gets lost or stolen, bye bye messages) and they are ONLY on your phone unless you connect iCloud or Google Drive in both your iCloud settings AND in the app settings.

Unlike accidentally deleting photos from your phone, there is no trash, once a message is gone, or your entire history is gone, it is GONE, even if it's because of their own faulty app update like in my case.