March 8, 2009 03:10 PM EST

A Richmond couple is suing a local doctor and Pattie A. Clay Medical Center after a physician allegedly left a surgical sponge inside the patient's body.

The incident happened during a c-section procedure at the hospital last year.  In the lawsuit filed last week in Madison County Circuit Court, Kimberly Huguely and Michael Huguely filed a civil suit against the hospital and Dr. Anthony Smith.

The couple says last March, Smith performed a c-section on Huguely, but a surgical sponge turned up missing in a post operative count.  The lawsuit states that she continued to experience sharp pain, discomfort and numbness in her abdomen, leading to pain in her back and numbness and pain in her leg.  Another doctor ordered a CT scan and found a sponge.

Huguely's lawsuit seeks recovery of damages stating that she suffered permanent and irreparable harm.