PLEASE HELP! Leaves are falling and it’s my fault but I want my old tree back

Hi guys, had a beautiful fiddle fig tree that I was taking care of like a baby, with fertilizer etc. had to leave the country for two weeks but because of personal matters unexpectedly my trip got prolonged. I watered my plant before leaving and didn’t give it to anyone to take care of because I don’t water it that frequently. However, because the trip got unexpectedly prolonged I couldn’t water it and couldn’t let anyone in to my house either. When I came back I had lost many many leaves 😭😭 and it keeps on falling. My fiddle fig went from being the beautiful fully stemmed one to a barely surviving babe. What should I go? I saw people fully cutting it off from a node and letting it grow but I’m nervous. See attached pics for the before and after.