Nia Bowers
Grief is one of the most profound human experiences, yet it is often the hardest to talk about. When someone loses a loved one, the world can suddenly feel unfamiliar, isolating, and overwhelming. While friends and family may want to help, many people struggling with loss find themselves searching for support that truly understands the depth of what they are feeling.
For entrepreneur and mother Renee Mustered, that search became deeply personal after a tragedy changed her life forever. Instead of allowing grief to define her future, she chose to transform that pain into purpose, creating a platform designed to help others navigate loss, healing, and emotional recovery.
During a recent appearance on The Rhonda Swan Show: Wake Up SoCal, Renee Mustered, founder of Vilomah, shared the powerful story behind the mental wellness app she created to support people navigating some of life’s most difficult moments.
Mustered shared that the inspiration behind Vilomah came from a tragedy that forever changed her life. Seven years ago, her son TJ was involved in a devastating motorcycle accident. She spent eight months by his side in the hospital before he ultimately passed away.
The loss left her struggling to cope with overwhelming grief and emotional trauma.
“After he passed, my life completely changed,” Mustered shared during the conversation. “I couldn’t leave my house. I couldn’t function. I had PTSD, panic attacks, and anxiety.”
Before the accident, she described herself as someone constantly on the move. Suddenly, even the idea of stepping outside felt impossible.
When Grief Becomes Overwhelming
The emotional impact of losing a child is something few people can fully understand unless they have experienced it themselves. Mustered described feeling disconnected from the world around her, as though she had become a stranger in her own life.
“There’s actually no word in the English language for a parent who loses a child,” she explained during the interview. “You become this outsider in the world, and you don’t really understand it until it happens to you.”
For many parents who have endured this loss, the feeling of isolation can be overwhelming. Friends and family often struggle to find the right words, leaving grieving parents to process their pain alone.
Rather than remaining trapped in that pain, Mustered eventually found a way to channel her experience into something meaningful, something that could help others facing similar grief.
That process ultimately led to the creation of Vilomah.
The Meaning Behind the Name Vilomah
The name Vilomah carries deep emotional significance. It is derived from a Sanskrit word that means “against the natural order.”
The term reflects the unimaginable reality of a parent losing a child, an event that feels profoundly unnatural and heartbreaking.
Originally, the app was designed specifically for parents coping with the loss of a child. However, as Mustered began speaking with more people and sharing her story, she realized that grief comes in many forms.
“Everyone needs this kind of support,” she explained. “People lose parents, children, friends, pets, relationships, or go through divorce. Loss looks different for everyone, but the pain is real.”
Recognizing this, the platform expanded into a broader mental wellness resource designed to support anyone experiencing grief, trauma, or emotional hardship.
Combining Technology and Compassion
One of the most unique aspects of Vilomah is its AI-powered support companion designed specifically for people dealing with grief. Unlike traditional support systems that may only be available during certain hours, the Ai.ngel companion provides comfort and guidance at any time.
For individuals experiencing late-night anxiety or sudden waves of sadness, having access to support at any moment can be incredibly valuable.
“If someone wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare or feels overwhelmed, they can talk to the Ai.ngelsupport system,” Mustered explained. “It’s trained specifically to understand grief.”
In addition to the AI support feature, the app offers meditation tools and structured emotional wellness steps designed to help users gradually move forward in their healing journey.
These small, manageable steps are especially helpful for individuals who feel immobilized by grief and unsure how to begin rebuilding their lives.
“I couldn’t even leave my house in the beginning,” she shared. “So having simple daily steps can really help.”
Taking the Mission on the Road
Building the app was only part of Mustered’s mission. She also wanted people to understand the human story behind it.
Rather than relying solely on digital promotion, she chose a more personal approach. Mustered traveled across the United States in an RV, meeting people face-to-face and sharing her story directly with communities.
“I wanted people to know my face and understand who built this,” she said during the interview. “I wanted them to know TJ’s story and what I went through.”
During the journey, she distributed thousands of brochures and spoke with people from all walks of life. What stood out most was how many individuals had their own stories of loss.
“Every person I met had a story,” she recalled. “We would sit down, talk, sometimes cry together.”
Those moments of human connection reinforced the deeper purpose behind Vilomah.
A Community Built on Compassion
At its core, Vilomah is more than a mental health app; it is a growing community rooted in empathy, understanding, and support. Mustered believes its most important message is simple: no one has to face grief alone.
She also shared that her son TJ’s memory continues to guide her mission. “I talk to him every day,” she said. “I truly feel like he’s guiding this journey.”
Today, Vilomah is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, offering support tools and resources to people navigating grief around the world.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
As Rhonda Swan pointed out during the interview, grief is something nearly everyone will experience at some point in life. Whether it comes from losing a loved one, a relationship, or another deeply personal challenge, emotional pain is part of the human experience.
“Everyone deserves access to support,” Swan said.
By transforming her personal tragedy into a platform for healing, Renee Mustered hopes to provide the support she once searched for during her most difficult moments.
About The Rhonda Swan Show
The Rhonda Swan Show Wake Up New York City Edition and The Rhonda Swan Show Wake Up SoCal are a global stage for founders, creators, and visionaries who turn courage into companies and values into value.
Hosted by Rhonda Swan, CEO of Unstoppable Branding Agency, the series blends street-level energy with boardroom insight to reveal the people and principles behind tomorrow’s category leaders.
Each episode closes the gap between inspiration and action, reminding audiences that remarkable brands are built by ordinary people who choose to keep going.