Same happened to me but i don't think you can get them back. I just had to start over unfortunately! I had played that day but for some reason it didn't register on the game.
Thanks for your kind response. I will continue to send lives, even if it's not reciprocated, because I want to keep being a good person. To answer your question, yes, I've repeatedly requested lives at times but to no avail. Oh well....Maybe someone will have a change of heart and start sending lives to others. <3 <3
I really could use the help from friends sometimes so it's discouraging when the help never comes! Especially when I'm sending lives regularly to my friends.