Tulane orthopedic surgeon has passion for pumpkin portraits [Video]

NEW ORLEANS — It would hardly be the Halloween season without the glow of Jack-o-Lanterns on front porches. 

And in New Orleans, there’s a pumpkin carver with a passion for portraits who is carving out a space for herself in another industry, too. 

Kelly Hill’s got guts. Lots of pumpkin guts.

“Okay, we got this,” Dr. Hill said as she steadied herself, carving tool in hand, over a shiny orange pumpkin. “It’s just another year. You’re just doing it again.”

She has some metaphorical guts, too. We’ll explain that in a moment. But every October for more than a decade, she’s stood at her kitchen countertop in her New Orleans home. 

“I just made a little mistake. But, part of it is acceptance,” she said, looking up from her pumpkin. 

Her assistant, pet cat …